Japan rivals NTT and KDDI join hands on 6G optical equipment

Telecom operators combine technologies, aiming to cut power use by 99%

A technology KDDI came up with while developing large-capacity submarine cables might help rival NTT speed up the development of highly efficient, next-generation transmission infrastructure. (Source photos by Nikkei and AP)

SHIHO MIYAJIMA and RISA KAWABA, Nikkei staff writers

March 1, 2023 18:00 JST

Updated on March 1, 2023 19:12 JST

TOKYO/BARCELONA, Spain -- Japanese telecommunication rivals NTT and KDDI will collaborate in developing technology for ultra-energy-efficient networks that use light to transmit signals from communication lines to servers and semiconductors.

With data centers accounting for 1% of the world's power consumption -- a ratio that is expected to increase rapidly -- the telcos aim to establish a basic technology by the end of 2024.