NTT DoCoMo and SKT will align their concepts and timelines for the early deployment of 6G
Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo announced an agreement with Korean telecommunications operator SK Telecom (SKT) to collaborate on the enhancement of their respective “smart-life businesses” and as well as communications infrastructure technologies.
In the smart-life field, DoCoMo and SKT say they will discuss joint production of original content for their respective video distribution platforms and leverage their video-business synergies for expanded presence on a global basis.
Meanwhile, in metaverse-related services, the two operators plan to consider opportunities to jointly produce virtual content, including 3D models, volumetric videos and virtual cities, as well as explore possibilities for connecting their respective platforms over the long term.
In the field of telecom infrastructure, the partners say they will pursue cooperation that boosts 5G commercial services. Specific areas of technical consideration will include 5G Standalone, millimeter-wave utilization, energy-efficient networks and Open RAN/vRAN.
In addition, NTT DoCoMo and SKT plan to align their “concepts and timelines” for the early deployment of future 6G systems, through joint research and development as well as standardization, with joint testing to begin possibly during 2023. Such efforts are expected to support the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) concept being promoted by NTT, DoCoMo’s parent company.
SK Telecom President and CEO Ryu Young-sang said: “The MOU has a significant meaning as it is a cooperation between the representative mobile operators of Korea and Japan. By working together with NTT Docomo in the area of future ICT, we will generate tangible results that drive global ICT innovation.”
“By combining our technological capabilities and the know-how we have cultivated across years of experience, we hope to create new services that will allow customers around the world to experience new forms of excitement. We look forward to working with SK Telecom to develop the businesses of both companies,” said NTT DoCoMo President and CEO Motoyuki Ii.
Earlier this year, NTT DoCoMo, Fujitsu and NEC had announced joint 6G trials, with indoor trials scheduled for this year, followed by outdoor trials in March 2023.
Commercial services are expected to launch in 2030. 6G technologies have not yet been standardized.
Specifically, Docomo and Fujitsu aim to establish 6G wireless technologies for sub-THz communication using 100 GHz and 300 GHz band. A critical technology here will be distributed MIMO, which refers to multiple sub-terahertz wave antennas that are dispersed to simultaneously emit radio waves from multiple directions to a receiving terminal.
According to NTT Docomo, results from the trials will be reported to global research groups, international conferences and “will serve as a foundation for more advanced technologies.” Specifically, the trials will explore numerous new mobile technologies needed for 6G, including the use of the millimeter and sub-terahertz (above 6 GHz) bands and AI-based wireless transmission methods.
