Beyond 5G/6G
White Paper- English version 1.0 -August 2021

Copyright © 2021 NICT All Rights Reserved.

Beyond 5G/6G White Paper(English version 1.0)

National Institute of Information andCommunications Technology (NICT)
August 2021

Contents
Executive Summary............................................................................................... i
Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................... 4
1.1 Background of the White Paper.............................................................. 4
1.1.1 Evolution of Mobile Communication Systems ................................ 4
1.1.2 Covid-19 Pandemic............................................................................. 5
1.1.3 R&D Competition for Next-generation Mobile Communication
Systems .......................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Purpose and Positioning of the White Paper ....................................... 6
Chapter 2: Future Society after 2030 (view of the Beyond 5G/6G world)............................................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Information and Communication Networks and the Nature of Society............................................................................................................................ 8
2.2 Migration of Information and Communication Networks .................. 8
2.3 Integration of Cyber Space and Physical Space in Beyond 5G/6G 9
Chapter 3: What Will Daily Life Be Like in the Beyond 5G/6G Era?
Scenarios and Use Cases ................................................................................ 13
3.1 Scenario 1 – Cybernetic Avatar Society .............................................. 13
3.1.1 A Day in 2035: From the Diary of a Technology Development
Manager ....................................................................................................... 13
3.1.2 Case Examples of Usage and Key Technologies Required for
Implementation........................................................................................... 16
3.2 Scenario 2 – City on the Moon ............................................................. 20
3.2.1 People Cultivating the Moon .......................................................... 20
3.2.2 Case Examples of Usage and Key Technologies Required for
Implementation........................................................................................... 24
3.3 Scenario 3 – Transcending Space and Time ...................................... 28
3.3.1 Creative and Active Lifestyles ....................................................... 28
3.3.2 Dive to the Point .............................................................................. 29
3.3.3 What Is in the Sky? ......................................................................... 30
3.3.4 Case Examples of Usage and Key Technologies Required for
Implementation........................................................................................... 31
Chapter 4: Key Technologies for Beyond 5G/6G ....................................... 35
4.1 Technologies Enabling Use Cases ....................................................... 35
4.2 Outline of Technology ........................................................................... 36

4.2.1 Ultra-High-Speed and High-Capacity Wireless Communications....................................................................................................................... 36
4.2.2 Ultra-Low Latency and Ultra-Massive Connectivity .................. 39
4.2.3 Wired/Wireless Communication and Network Control .............. 46
4.2.4 Multi-Layering of Wireless Systems – NTN .................................. 50
4.2.5 Space-Time Synchronization ......................................................... 54
4.2.6 Ultra-Security and Reliability ........................................................ 57
4.2.7 Ultra-Reality and Innovative Applications .................................. 63
4.3 R&D Roadmap ......................................................................................... 69
Chapter 5: R&D Open Platform ...................................................................... 71
Chapter 6: Deployment Strategies ................................................................ 72
6.1 Trends in Standardization for Beyond 5G/6G ................................... 72
6.2 National Project for Beyond 5G/6G Research and Development . 74
Chapter 7: Conclusion ..................................................................................... 76
Acknowledgment............................................................................................... 77

Executive Summary
Beyond

5G/6G,

which

is

the

next-generation

information

andcommunications infrastructure, is essential for achieving the SDGs andrealizing Society 5.0, and it is important to define its functional structure(Figure A). In physical space, a flexible and scalable communication
environment is provided by combining not only conventional terrestrial
mobile networks, but also satellite networks and multi-core fiber optical
networks. In cyber space, a variety of spaces coexist depending on theapplication, andinformation processingiscarriedout basedon

accumulated past data and future forecasts.
In the Beyond 5G/6G era, space and time will be highly controlled inboth physical space and cyber space, and the integration of the two
spaces will make it possible to do things that have not been possible in
Realization of
SDGs and Society 5.0
Applications

Freedom from time and space

Cybernetic Avatar Society

City on the Moon

Freedom from the brain

Freedom from physical limitations

Transcending Space and Time

・・・

・・・

・・・

Enabler
Infrastructure services andfunctions that enableapplications to run acrossphysical and cyber spaces

E-commerce
E-sports

SkycarAI plant

AI medicine

Customized virtual spaceaccording to applications

Cyber physicalcontrol plane

Requirements of applications andnotification of their intention

Resource
Orchestrator
management andoptimization control

Automatic selection of appropriate wireless systems
Nonstationary satellite

Geostationary
satellite

Utilization of time andspace resources in both
physical space andcyber space

Satellite network
Non-terrestrial
network

Hybridcommunication
with radio and
light

HAPS

Terrestrial system Terahertz
Mobile Network /wave
Local 6G

Understanding humanand object behavior,
radio environment,
network conditions, etc.

Oceans anddisaster-stricken areas

Local 6G

Cyber Physical
System (CPS)

Physical space data

System state

Shared computing resources,
storage and white boxes

Physical space

DisasterSpace
CPS
Spatialmonitoring / Avatar Cyberprediction forecasting workers Classroom Security communication

Cyber space data
Data collection and analysis

Cyber space
Diverse cyber spaces coexist depending on applications(e.g. : Cybernetic Avatar Society, City on the moon, Transcending
space-time …)

Application A
Reproduction of theradio environment andnetwork conditions

Time and spacesynchronized withphysical space
Accumulation of
the experienceand forecast

Actuation

Integration ofCyber and PhysicalspacesEmulation of people
and things

Multicore optical network(front / backhaul / core network)

Sensing

Figure A: Overview of the functional structure of Beyond 5G/6G toachieve the SDGs and realize Society 5.0(Figure 2.2 in the text)ithe physical space alone. The combination of enablers (platform services
and basic functions) that can be implemented across the integrated
physical space and cyber space is expected to provide new applications
and help solve various social issues.
Chapter 3 of this White Paper introduces three scenarios and several
use cases that illustrate social life around 2030 to 2035. Figure B shows
images of the three scenarios: “Cybernetic Avatar Society,” which depicts
a society in which avatars are widely utilized; “City on the Moon,” which
depicts a society in which human activities spread to the Moon; and“Transcending Space and Time,” which depicts a society in which thelimitations of space and time are transcended. The roadmap for eachscenario is shown in Table C. The second half of the White Papersummarizes the key technologies and requirements to realize the use
cases, the R&D roadmap (Chapter 4), and the deployment strategy

Cybernetic Avatar Society

Transcending Time and Space

City on the Moon

Figure B: Three scenarios of Beyond 5G/6G that envision social lifearound 2030–2035(Figures 3.9, 3.16 and 3.23 in the text).
(Chapter 6).
This document describes the first initiative that NICT, a group ofii

experts in information and communication technologies, has studied forrealization of the Beyond 5G/6G world. We will continue discussions withmany people based on this document, and revise this White Paper as
needed according to the progress of the discussions.
Table C: Expected roadmap for each scenario

2020 - 2024
Science and Technology
Basic Plan
Evolution of mobile
communication systems

Scenario

B5G Promotion Strategy
Cybernetic Avatar Society(3-1)
City on the Moon
(3-2)

2025 - 2029

2030 - 2034

2035~

Sixth Science and Technology Basic Plan
Early 5G

Enhanced 5G(Non Stand Alone)

Beyond 5G(Stand Alone)

Phase of phase

Acceleration phase of efforts
Real-3D Avatar Remote XR
Simultaneous Interpretation
Conference
Lunar Gateway

Promotion of the Lunar Gateway / ARTEMIS Program

Support for the elderly basedon language / non-language /brain information analysis
Experimental
demonstration

Automatic driving support
using edge servers

Transcending Time andSpace (3-3)

iiiIntuitive remote work by
transmitting multisensory info
including touch
Survey and development of moon

Infrastructure conservationand environmental monitoringwith the sensor network

Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background of the White Paper
1.1.1 Evolution of Mobile Communication Systems
Work on installing the fifth-generation mobile communication system(5G) started in around 2020 and is now fully under way (as of March
2021), and there are high expectations for its use.
Mobile communication systems have evolved from communication
infrastructure (1G–3G) to living infrastructure (4G), and have become an
indispensable element in the lives of individuals. 5G has become a social
infrastructure that connects not only people but also things, such as in
the Internet of Things (IoT).
Cyber physical systems (CPSs), in which people interact with eachother, people with things, and things with things through cyber space,have become significant in various aspects of social life.
Inthe next-generation mobile

communication systems (Beyond

5G/6G), the communication network supporting the CPSs will serve as thenerve network of society itself. In other words, it is expected that
communications

networks,

which

will

be

centeredonmobilecommunications systems, will serve as the fundamental infrastructure ofCyber Space
Sensing & Projection

Processing

Actuation

Physical Space
Figure 1.1: Realization of a “cyber physical system” thatmeasures events (big data) in physical (real) space, projects
them into cyber space, finds solutions (optimal solutions), andactuates the physical space event.
4

society in the future.
1.1.2 Covid-19 Pandemic
In response to the global
pandemicofcoronavirus

the

new

(SARS-CoV-2),

governments around the world
have responded by enforcing

Figurelockdowns

individuals will be connected by an

and

other

1.2:

Spatiallymeasures to minimize direct

advancedhuman-to-human contact and

5G/6G) to collaborate with others,

reduce infections. With therobotsexception

cyberspace. It becomes possible toofessential

workers,manypeoplebeing

encouraged

are

nerve
and

network

dispersed

avatars(Beyondthrough

continue to create value at all times.

orcompelled to work from home.
Telecommuting enables individuals to connect through cyber space,enabling them to continue their economic activities to some extent.
However, the inadequacy of current information and communication
technology (ICT) has become clear.
The advantages of conducting economic activities through cyber space
are that they are not constrained by actual space and time; this is a newstyle of activity.
1.1.3 R&D Competition for Next-generation Mobile Communication
Systems
Communication networks have extremely high value as a fundamental
infrastructure of society, and their security is attracting considerable
attention.
There is an accelerating trend toward the dominance of nextgeneration mobile communications systems, both economically and interms of security.
Against this background, interest in Beyond 5G/6G has increased
significantly compared to the previous generation changes, and there ismuch discussion about how to proceed with research and development.
White Papers have been published by various organizations, forums
have been established, and investment in R&D is beginning (see5

“Reference: Various White Paper Consortiums, etc.” at the end of thischapter).

1.2 Purpose and Positioning of the White Paper
This White Paper is the result of NICT’s study, as a group of experts in
information and communications technologies, on the realization of the
Beyond 5G/6G world.
We created three scenarios, Cybernetic Avatar Society, City on theMoon, and Transcending Space and Time, based on an image of social lifein the years from 2030 to 2035, and attempted to identify the necessary
technologies by backcasting from the future society depicted in thesescenarios.
Scenarios and use cases (Chapter 3), key technologies, requirements
for realizing them, and the R&D roadmap (Chapter 4), and the deployment
strategy (Chapter 6) are summarized. It goes without saying that in orderto develop, implement and utilize the future technologies necessary torealize the depicted social lives, it is necessary to engage in discussions
with not only NICT but also various stakeholders to set specific goals andcarry out activities to achieve those goals.

In the future, we intend to use this White Paper as a basis for further
discussions with many people. We plan to revise this White Paper asnecessary to reflect the progress of these discussions.

6References: Various White Paper Consortiums, etc.
(1) Beyond 5G/6G White Papers, etc.
● Beyond 5G Promotion Strategy Council, Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications
https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01kiban09_02000364.html○ NTT’s IOWN initiative
https://www.rd.ntt/iown/● DoCoMo’s “DoCoMo 6G White Paper”
https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/corporate/technology/whitepaper_6g/● KDDI’s “Beyond 5G/6G White Paper”
https://www.kddi-research.jp/tech/whitepaper_b5g_6g/● NEC’s “Beyond 5G Vision White Paper”
https://jpn.nec.com/nsp/5g/beyond5g/pdf/NEC_B5G_WhitePaper_1.0.pdf● Samsung’s “The Next Hyper – Connected Experience for All”
https://cdn.codeground.org/nsr/downloads/researchareas/20201201_6G_
Vision_web.pdf○ University of Oulu’s “6G channel”
https://www.6gchannel.com/
https://www.6gchannel.com/portfolio-posts/6g-white-paper-validationtrials/(2) Consortiums, etc.
● Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium
https://b5g.jp● NEXT G ALLIANCE
https://nextgalliance.org/

7

Chapter 2: Future Society after 2030 (view of the
Beyond 5G/6G world)
2.1 Information and Communication Networks and the Nature ofSocietyInnovations in information and communication networks are expected
to bring about the following:(1) Inclusiveness: A society where everyone can play an active role byeliminating various barriers and differences such as urban and rural
areas, borders, ages, and the presence or absence of disabilities(2) Sustainability: A society that is free from social loss, convenientand sustainably growing(3) Reliability: A society that is resilient and vibrant, centered onhuman, in which safety and security are ensured and the bonds oftrust will not be shaken even in the event of unforeseen
circumstances, that is, Society 5.0
It is thought that CPSs will be used in various aspects of social
activities, such as monitoring the real world through information andcommunication networks, aggregating the results as big data, analyzing
the big data in cyber space and improving the real world based on the
results using various actuators. There are high expectations that thissystem will realize a strong and vibrant society centered on humans.

2.2 Migration of Information and Communication Networks
The use of various infrastructure and resources that support social
activities is expected to change dramatically from centralized todecentralized, and from monopolistic to sharing. Several examples ofsuch use have already been presented, and this is what is called a sharedeconomy. Examples include car sharing in transportation, co-working in
the working environment, and crowdfunding in finance. The nature of
information and communication networks is likely to change significantly
in line with this trend.
Software-defined networks (SDN), i.e., network virtualization, will
become increasingly common, and along with the development of white8

boxes for hardware, artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be applied
to control more complex networks. Network virtualization and white-box
hardware will spread to terminals.
Terrestrial communication networks, including mobile communication
systems, and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) in the aerospace field, whichwere previously separate networks, are expected to be integrated fromboth sides, with new components such as high-altitude platform stations(HAPS), drones, and flying cars involved.
The development of radio resources in the millimeter-wave andterahertz bands will necessitate making full use of radio waves.

2.3 Integration of Cyber Space and Physical Space in Beyond
5G/6G
Figure 2.1 shows an outline of solving social issues through the
integrated use of physical space and cyber space in Beyond 5G/6G.
Beyond 5G/6G provides highly controlled space and time in both physicalspace and cyber space, making it possible to do things that could not havebeen achieved in physical space alone. This integration of physical spaceand cyber space is realized by managing and controlling information
through the control plane. In addition, enabling applications acrossintegrated physical and cyber space requires fundamental services andfunctions, which are referred to as “enablers.” The combination of
enablers realizes a wide range of applications. The Beyond 5G/6G
applications provided in this way are expected to solve increasing social
issues in the future.
Next, based on Figure 2.2, which is a more detailed version of Figure
2.1, we describe the functional architecture of Beyond 5G/6G.
In mobile communication systems up to 5G, frequency has been an
important resource to be managed, but space and time have not been
sufficiently recognized as resources that should be actively managed.
However,

space

and

time

are

essential

resourcesforadvancedapplications. Based on the recognition that space and time are importantresources for Beyond 5G/6G, we believe that it is necessary to makeeffective use of these resources by actively making predictions in cyber
space

and

optimally

controlling

physical

space

based

on

these

predictions. In this White Paper, we follow this concept and assume the9functional architecture of the Beyond 5G/6G as shown in Figure 2.2.
The social issues that Beyond 5G/6G aims to solve cover a wide rangeof fields, as represented by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and Society 5.0. At this time, by expanding the space we handle fromphysical to cyber, we will be able to solve many new social issues if we
can open up the limits of space and time, the body, the brain, and otherareas that were conventionally considered difficult to overcome.

Figure 2.1: Integration of physical and cyber space in Beyond 5G/6G andsolving social issues.
A wide range of applications do solve social issues. As examples of suchapplications, this White Paper presents three scenarios in Chapter 3: The
Cybernetic Avatar Society, City on the Moon, and Transcending Space andTime. Applications are implemented with enablers as fundamental
services and functions that span physical and cyber space. Enablers arebuilding blocks for application-enabling features such as e-commerce,
next-generation avatars, and space communications. Enablers are CPSready to handle both physical and cyber space.
Physical space and cyber space are managed by a cyber-physicalcontrol plane, which enables the utilization of resources including space
and time, as well as the monitoring, sharing and optimization of the
movement of people and things, the radio wave environment, and the10status of networks. By providing sensing results from physical space tocyber space and by actuating from cyber space to physical space,advanced control of space-time resources is made possible in both
spaces.
In the physical space, not only the conventional mobile system for
smartphones operated by mobile operators but also Local 5G, nextgeneration wireless LANs, private wireless systems for dedicatedpurposes and non-terrestrial wireless systems such as HAPS andsatellites are integrated. Next-generation optical networks and data
centers are integrated with these systems, and by flexibly combining theresources of each other, the optimal communication environment thatmeets applications’ needs and intentions is provided.
In cyber space, a space corresponding to physical space is defined. In
additiontorealistic

Realization of
SDGs and Society 5.0
Applications

reproduction

Freedom from time and space

Cybernetic Avatar Society

City on the Moonofphysicalspace,

subspaces

Freedom from the brain

Freedom from physical limitations

Transcending Space and Time

・・・

・・・

・・・

Enabler
Infrastructure services andfunctions that enableapplications to run acrossphysical and cyber spaces

E-commerce
E-sports

SkycarAI plant

AI medicine

Customized virtual spaceaccording to applications

Cyber physicalcontrol plane

Requirements of applications andnotification of their intention

Resource
Orchestrator
management andoptimization control

Automatic selection of appropriate wireless systems
Nonstationary satellite

Geostationary
satellite

Utilization of time andspace resources in both
physical space andcyber space

Satellite network
Non-terrestrial
network

Hybridcommunication
with radio and
light

HAPS

Terrestrial system Terahertz
Mobile Network /wave
Local 6G

Cyber Physical
System (CPS)

Physical space data

System state

Shared computing resources,
storage and white boxes

Physical space

DisasterSpace
CPS
Spatialmonitoring / Avatar Cyberprediction forecasting workers Classroom Security communication

Understanding humanand object behavior,
radio environment,
network conditions, etc.

Oceans anddisaster-stricken areas

Cyber space data
Data collection and analysis

Cyber space
Diverse cyber spaces coexist depending on applications(e.g. : Cybernetic Avatar Society, City on the moon, Transcending
space-time …)

Application A
Reproduction of theradio environment andnetwork conditions

Time and spacesynchronized withphysical space
Accumulation of
the experienceand forecast

Actuation

Local 6G

Integration ofCyber and PhysicalspacesEmulation of people
and things

Multicore optical network(front / backhaul / core network)

Sensing

Figure 2.2: Overview of the functional structure of Beyond 5G/6G
to achieve the SDGs and realize Society 5.0.
11

corresponding to various application scenarios are superimposed andreproduced, and optimal control of physical space is performed based on
the prediction. In the cyber space, it is possible to perform verification
on a time axis different from the actual one or on a scenario that isdifficult to demonstrate in reality.

12Chapter 3: What Will Daily Life Be Like in the Beyond
5G/6G Era? Scenarios and Use Cases
3.1 Scenario 1 – Cybernetic Avatar Society
3.1.1 A Day in 2035: From the Diary of a Technology Development
Manager◼

9:30–10:30 Telepresence meeting with executives from Tokyo
headquarters to discuss new product planning while still staying at
home in Kyoto

XR

teleconferencing

among

3D

avatars (UC1-3: Telepresence). I wasa little nervous when the president’s
avatar appeared in front of me, but I
moved next to the president in 3D
space, handed him a product VR
prototype,

and

asked

him

to

experience it remotely with haptic

Figure 3.1: Telepresence
meeting.

gloves. We were able to get his goahead right away.
◼

10:30–11:30 Participate in global disaster response event

Remotely participate in large-scaletraining event for simulating natural
disasters(UC1-3:

Telepresence).

Using global core network technology,
expertsfromvariouscountries

gathered in XR space to discussmatters further (UC1-1: Promotion of
MutualUnderstanding),

products

were

and

our

operated

Figure 3.2: Telepresence
event.

simultaneously in each country using time synchronization technology.
We were very pleased to be able to verify the effectiveness of our
products in the event of a disaster.

13◼

11:30–12:00 Respond to an emergency problem at a manufacturing
plant in Thailand by instantaneous physical movement (9:30–10:00
local time)A

suddennoticefromamanufacturing plant in Thailand thatthe production line had been shut
down. Weattempted to remotely

control the manufacturing equipment
by hopping on a local avatar robot(UC1-3:

Telepresence)

and

found

that a part was damaged. The person

Figure 3.3: Remote response

in charge repaired the equipment

to emergency problem.

remotely,

and

was

able

to

work

remotely with ease without any awkward delay.
◼

12:00–13:00 Remote lunch while assisting my father, who lives alone
in the countryside of Okayama

I enjoyed lunch with my father, whose
physical functions are deteriorating,using an avatar. I remotely controlled
the assistive devices to help my dad
eat(UC1-2:

SupportMentalAvatar).

andPhysicalEEG

analysis

showed that his understanding had
not deteriorated, which was a relief.
This is probably thanks to the AI

Figure 3.4: Remoteinteractive nursing care system myassistance.

father uses every day.
◼

13:00–15:00 Simultaneously participate in company meetings andvisit my son’s class remotely with multiple avatars

14

A teleconference in the company anda remote visit to my son’s school
coincided.

Theavatarcompany

meeting

for

the

set

to

was

autonomous alter-ego mode, and AR
was used to check the status of themeeting (UC1-3: Telepresence). For
the agenda item I was interested in, I

Figure 3.5: Company
meeting and class visit.

went back into the remote alter-ego
mode and made a statement. Don’t tell my son that I slipped out of theclass visit during that time!
◼

15:00–16:00 Refresh body and soul by climbing XR-Mt. Fuji

Petit-XR

Mt.

Fuji

climbingforrefreshment (UC1-3: Telepresence).
Thanks to a number of 360-degree
cameras and haptic sensors installedon the site, which flexibly avoid radio
interference and provide wirelessaccess according to the situation, I
was

able

to

enjoy

a

Figure 3.6: XR Mount Fuji

remoteclimbing.

experience equivalent to climbing an
actual mountain while viewing the beautiful sea of clouds in a live
performance, which refreshed my body and soul.
◼

16:00–17:00 Remote negotiation with client in Turkey (10:00–11:00
local time) in Japanese

Our

products

arepopularin

Europe and the Middle East, andtoday we had a remote meetingwith a client in Turkey. I didn’tknow anything about the Turkish
language, culture, and customs,
so I was worried if I would be

Figure 3.7: Remote negotiation

able to communicate with them,across languages, cultures andbut thanks to the simultaneous

customs.
15

interpretation system that takes into account each other’s cultures, wewill be able to sign a new contract with the client (UC1-1: Promoting
Mutual Understanding).
◼

20:00–21:30 Watch TV special programs on future technology before
going to bed

Today, I had a fulfilling day as I was able to handle several roles by myself
with ease. Compared to 15 years ago, our country’s birthrate is falling andthe population is aging, but thanks to avatar technology, laborproductivity has improved. According to a TV show on future technologythat I watched after dinner, in another 15 years from now, most of thebrain’s functions will be incorporated into AI. It is going to be an amazing
world, but it is also going to be a test of human wisdom on how to use
these technologies.
3.1.2 Case Examples of Usage and Key Technologies Required for
Implementation
UC1-1: Mutual Understanding Promotion System (Across Barriers ofCulture and Values)
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
It is difficult for a wide range of
people with different cultures andvalues to truly understand eachother just through daily verbal
exchanges. However, this systemanalyzes the context, non-verbal
information, and brain information
to convey the true meaning of theotherpersonunderstandinanmanner.

easy-toEveninremote conversations with people

Figure 3.8: Mutualfrom overseas using real avatars,

understanding promotion

thesystem (UC1-1).

systemwill

translateandinterpret the concepts that thewords convey, taking into account differences in culture and customs,
thus deepening mutual understanding among people with diverse
16

cultures.
Usage:⚫

Conceptual translation is carried out by detecting inconsistencies
in human-to-human conversation.

⚫

Operation is performed by voice, brain-machine interface (BMI),
multiple sensors, etc.

Required key technologies (see Chapter 4):(T7) Brain information reading, visualization, and BMI technology(T7) Real 3D avatar, multisensory communication and XR technology(T7) AI analysis and dialogue technology using linguistic and extralinguistic information(T7) Multilingual simultaneous interpretation, paraphrasing, andsummarization technologies(T2) Integrated communication system configuration technology thatcoordinates the environment and requirements(T6) Human-centric security technology(* technology not covered by NICT)XR hardware technology such as head-mounted display (HMD)
UC1-2: Support Avatars for Mind and Body (Overcoming Barriers of
Age and Physical Ability)
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
A nursing-care support avatar (AI or
robot) reads verbal, non-verbal andbrain information of the elderly andthephysicallychallenged,

andassists them with their wishes andfeelings.

Caregivers

can

also

remotely control the nursing-care
support avatar to provide assistanceaccording to the wishes oftheelderly or the physically challenged.
Although the number of caregivers in

Figure 3.9: Mind and body

Japan is limited, it will be possible

support avatar (UC1-2).

for caregivers from abroad to assist
personal care by using the simultaneous interpretation system.
17

Usage:⚫

Elderly and physically challenged people use avatars.

⚫

Caregivers can remotely control avatars to support care-receivers.

Required key technologies (see Chapter 4):(T7)

Intuitionmeasurement,

communication

andassurancetechnology(T7) Real 3D avatar, multisensory communication and XR technology(T7) AI analysis and dialogue technology based on linguistic andextra-linguistic information(T7) Multilingual simultaneous interpretation, paraphrasing, andsummarization technologies(T2) Integrated communication system configuration technology thatcoordinates the environment and requirements(T6) Human-centric security technology(* technology not covered by NICT)
Hardware technologies such as home care robot and HMD
UC1-3: Working Style Revolution with Telepresence (Transcending
Distance and Time Barriers)
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
It allows the user to instantly
move around the world as wellas in Japan with 3D avatars
while staying at home. Meetings
with people overseas are madeeasy with XR and simultaneous
multilingual interpretation. Theavatar can instantly move tooverseas manufacturing plants
and farms, and remote work can
be

done

intuitively

withmultisensory information. It is
Figure 3.10: Working stylepossible to take care of parents

revolution with telepresence

living far away while working.
Youravatarissecure,(UC1-3).

andguaranteed not to be fake. It also allows multiple operators to switch
18

between avatars that are specific to each task.
Usage:⚫

Environmental

sensing

information

is

also

collected

andtransmitted.
⚫

Multiple avatars are switched by multiple operators.

Required key technologies (see Chapter 4):(T7)

Intuitionmeasurement,

communication

andassurancetechnology(T7) Real 3D avatar, multisensory communication and XR technology(T7) AI analysis and dialogue technology based on linguistic andextra-linguistic information(T7) Multilingual simultaneous interpretation, paraphrasing, andsummarization technologies(T2) Integrated communication system configuration technology thatcoordinates the environment and requirements(T6) Human-centric security technology(* technology not covered by NICT)
Hardware technologies such as remote-control robots and HMDs

19

3.2 Scenario 2 – City on the Moon
UC2-2 : 6G leading up to the Moon
Relay station

Optical communication
technology

Lunar gateway

UC2-4 : Moon TravelUC2-1 : Lunar baseconnected by 6G
UC2-3 : Avatar on the Moon /Street View in Space

Figure 3.11: Image of Scenario – City on the Moon.
3.2.1 People Cultivating the Moon
At the Lunar Gateway:
Everyonegathersinthebriefing room with their favorite
tumbler in one hand. This is aspace station orbiting the Moon
(lunar gateway). There are only
four astronauts serving in turn.
My boss shows a map of the lunar
surfaceonthescreenandFigure 3.12: Future lunar gateway.

explains the underground area tobe explored today. One of the crew members speaks:“Today’s range is 70 percent larger than the typical exploration range.
Aren’t we working too hard?”
My boss responds strongly:

20

”Yesterday,

thecompleted

work

in

was

another

construction area. There are morethan 30 avatar machines from
Earth.

Four

of

them

can

be

borrowed from those construction
sites.”
After downloading the process
chart and data, my boss and two

Figure 3.13: Image of lunar

crew members move to their own

settlement and lunar basepods and start connecting to thelunar

avatar

UC2-3).

machineI pourthe(UC2-1,remaininglemon tea down the exhaust ductdevelopment.** Space-X Base α: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/28/16382716/spacex-elon-muskmoon-base-alpha-mars-colonization-interplan
etary-transport-systemand slide into my pod.
From the Lunar Gateway to the Surface:
If you look at the horizon, you canclearly see the boundary between
the black space and the gray-brownground. This scene appears when
you plug into an avatar machine on
the Moon. Head to the construction
area with my boss. Launch a large
excavator and begin exploration. We
check the results against the scandata from the lunar gateway, feedback the results, and optimize theexploration route.
For the rest of the crew members,
today is virtual training day. Regulartraining is mandatory so that we canrespond quickly to all possible crises
on the Moon.
It seems that the Earth team has
started working behind us, and the21

Figure 3.14: Remote work withlunar avatars.

vibrations of multiple large impact drivers are transmitted to the grip armof the lunar surface avatar and transmitted to my bare hands on the lunar
gateway (UC2-1, UC2-3). I feel slightly odd when I realize that thesevibrations had been converted into radio waves before they reached me.
From Earth to the Moon
As I look at the horizon, I can clearly see the boundary between theblack universe and the gray-brown ground. It is a familiar sight thatappears when I plug into an avatar machine on the lunar surface. I headto the construction area with four avatar machines and meet up withthree other avatar machines at the site. The lunar team has alreadystarted their work. They are planning their exploration route.
It is the 6G network that connects myself on Earth with this body (theavatar machine on the Moon). When I arrive at the site, I first check thecommunication status with Earth (UC2-1, UC2-2). Next, I check theautonomous navigation unit equippedwith an ultra-high-sensitivity inertial
sensor. Even if the network is cut off,
it will be able to operate safely
autonomously, but this tough andexpensive government system will besuspended. It’s also important to beable to track the location of avatar
machines on the Moon without relying
solely on communications, by using
the high-precision positioning system
of 6G base stations instead.
While operating multiple excavation
machines, the team will efficiently
assemble a reinforced panel with an
impact driver to prevent cave-ins. A
robust edge cloud network has been
built on the lunar surface, and theinfluence of communication delay issufficiently suppressed by utilizing
brain information (UC2-1, UC2-3). As
22

Figure 3.15: Remote work withlunar avatars.

a result, humans and things can silently and safely cooperate on theMoon, far away from Earth.
With today’s work time finished, I return to the maintenance box of theavatar machine and lay myself down. I slowly unplug from the avatar
machine, watching the high-contrast horizon that I first saw.
A few moments before it switches to a scene on Earth, a rover with a
3D camera passes in front of my sight (UC2-3).
Someone must be enjoying a Moon trip on Earth.
On Earth:
SlowlyI

consciousness
lunar

avatarregainfromthemachineto

Lunar basemyself on the ground. I stare

6G base station

at my palms in my pod on
Earth where calming musicis playing. It’s a slender
Street View in Space

hand with long fingers. Justa moment ago, it had been alarge,

dusty,

sooty

robot

arm.

Ultra Highcapacity opticalcommunication

Moon travel

Recently, a broadcastingstudio has been completed
in construction area B; mynephew is going there soon.
I want to visit the Moon
with

my

touristdaughter
once

as

a

the

underground exploration iscompleted and the beautiful

Figure 3.16: Accessing Street View inspace from Earth.

lunar city is built (UC2-4).

23

3.2.2 Case Examples of Usage and Key Technologies Required for
ImplementationUC2-1: Lunar Base Connected by 6G
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
The same 6G terminal as on the
ground is connected at the lunar
base,

enabling

positioning

andlocation. The environment is severer
than on the ground, and requires
higherreliability

andsecurityforhuman life.
Usage:
⚫

Can

be

used

in

harsh

environments on the Moon.
⚫

Can be maintained remotely.

Figure 3.17: Lunar baseconnected by 6G (UC2-1).

Required key technologies (see Chapter 4):(T3) Design and allocation of frequency utilization considering
propagation on the lunar surface(T1) Wireless optical communications and terahertz technology used
due to the lack of air(T2) Ultra-massive connectivity technology for communication of vitaldata, etc.
(T4) Requires communication equipment that is resistant to radiationon the Moon
(T5) An atomic clock built into the local 6G base station enables
positioning on the lunar surface using radio waves(T4) Providing communication services in cooperation with a private
mobile operator(T6) Security needs to be higher than on the ground(T4) 6G base station with software defined radio (SDR) installed on
lunar surface (lunar surface radio with variable frequency andmodulation)(T1) Fiber laying (multi-core fiber, laid during construction, buried inregolith)(T4) Minerals, fuels, buried resources, and transmission of financial
information (encryption, security, time synchronization required)24

(T4) Avoiding the effects of meteorites (tracking of debris anddisrupting their orbits by laser irradiation)
UC2-2: 6G leading up to the Moon
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
Asystemusedforcommunication
between lunar avatars
and

users

on

Earth.

communicationisHigh-speed
possible from Earth to

Figure 3.18: 6G leading up to thethe lunar base, and theMoon (UC2-2).

same 6G terminal as on
Earth is connected.
Usage:⚫

Communication via the lunar gateway is required.

⚫

Target data transmission speed is 5 Gbps or higher.

⚫

Earth-Moon delay must be taken into consideration.

Required key technologies (see Chapter 4):(T4) Earth-Moon ultra-high-capacity optical communication(T4) 24/365 communication(T4) Data relay station in geostationary orbit(T4) Providing communication services in cooperation with private
satellite operators(T4) Security must be taken into account, with multiple routing
choices for security and reliability(T4) Adaptive optics for onboard satellites(T4) Large aperture optical antenna technology for onboard satellites

25UC2-3: Avatar on the Moon/Street View in Space
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
A user on the ground performs anactivity on the Moon by plugging in anavatar on the lunar surface. Enables
real-time work to be performed at lunar
plants, construction sites, and lunar
laboratories(material

evaluation,

charge behavior in materials) while ontheground.

It

can

also

provideentertainment services (for a fee) suchas games and education, and reduce thelanguagebarrier

on

the

Moon

by

Figure 3.19: Street View inspace (UC2-3).

communicating in multiple languages inareas such as mineral resource development and ownership, andspace medicine (remote surgery by avatars), etc. In addition, real-time
images of the universe can be enjoyed from the ground via webcams
mounted on satellites.
Usage:⚫

Conceptual translation is carried out by detecting inconsistencies
in human-to-human conversation.

⚫

Operation is performed by voice, BMI, multiple sensors, etc.

Required key technologies (see Chapter 4):(T1) Ultra-high-capacity wireless communication(T7) Multilingual translation(T2, T7) Low latency, brain tricks, gravity compensation(T2) Local processing by AI and low latency control in edge
computing, etc.
(T7) Leisure, gaming, VR/XR technology(T6) Security considerations (specific to medical services)(T4) It is necessary to ensure the reliability and the tolerance of thematerial ｓ

in a space environment because the degradation

process is different from that on the ground.

26

UC2-4: Moon Travel
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
This is a system for highcapacity communication with
Earth and the lunar baseduring an actual trip to theMoon in the future. Thissystem will provide safe andsecure travel that allows us
to contact our grandparents
on Earth without problems

Figure 3.20: Moon travel

even during long trips. We(UC2-4).

are entering an era in whichpeople can enjoy space travel even for leisure, and can send photos
taken during their trip to Earth via SNS.
Usage:⚫

Communication lines can be used without any special skills.

⚫

Measures are needed to ensure a safe return to the spacecrafteven if the communication link for passengers is cut off during
extravehicular activities.

⚫

Measures against blackouts are needed when returning to Earth.

Required key technologies (see Chapter 4):(T4) Importance of space weather (large impact on the human bodyand equipment)(T1) Ultra-high-capacity wireless communication(T2, T7) Long-distance teleconferencing(T2) Low latency(T6) Security considerations27

3.3 Scenario 3 – Transcending Space and Time3.3.1 Creative and Active Lifestyles

Father and daughter:My youngest daughter is very lively and I can’t take my eyes off hereven at the park. While watching my daughter, I call up my floating
information terminal to have a meeting with my colleagues at work. It is alittle cold outside. “Daddy, look! Hmm... POFF!” A pebble crashes into apile of sand. I notice my wife’s camera drone near my daughter. My wife
can’t stop watching her daughter either. She is supposed to be on abusiness trip until today, but it looks like she is connecting to the smart
drone system to check things out (UC3-3). She never trusts me!
First son:
The teacher’s lesson through the glass monitor is fun. Next month, they
will perform a dance at the theater that was completed on the Moon. I am
at home on Earth now. The AI alerts me to take a break, so I stop dancing
and check the 3D feedback images while changing the viewpoint. The
dancing of my friends is superimposed on the images of myself (UC1-3).
“Hmmm, looks like I’m a talented dancer.”Second son:
My brother seems to have started a dance lesson upstairs because thethudding noise is loud. It’s my brother’s turn to cook today, but I decided
to take over. It’s fun to be able to create new dishes by using the Skill
Learning Assistant (apparently the teacher is an old lady in theneighborhood...) (UC1-1, UC1-2). Come to think of it, I am going toGrandpa’s house tomorrow. I’d like to make something for him and bring
it. What’s his favorite?
Grandfather and father:
My father is a charismatic local hairdresser. These days, he opens his
stores only when his customers ask him to (UC1-3). Today he celebrated
his 77th birthday (called “Kiju” in Japanese). It was exciting, just like a28

talent show, with regular customers and old staff coming to celebrate. His
hobbies are cycling and fishing, so he is suntanned. “Stay well, Dad.”
With family:
After finishing the board game, the children began to breathe like they
were sleeping. My wife also started to doze off, rocking her body backand forth like rowing a boat. My second son made inarizushi (sushi
wrapped in fried tofu); I wonder how he knew what my father’s favorite
food is. Watching someone’s sleeping face makes me feel sleepy too. I
switch to automatic navigation mode and stretch out. The gliding skycar’s
interior is really quiet (UC3-1). I look up at the Moon from the windshield.
“Hey, Bro! Where is the theater where my child will dance?”
3.3.2 Dive to the Point

In the stratosphere warehouse that orbits around 20 km above theground, I (an autonomous AI system) put the requested cargo in mybackpack and dive to the ground (UC3-1). The moment I step out, I always
get nervous, but when I do, I am filled with a sense of freedom. Afterleaving the warehouse, the sky gradually changes from dark blue to paleblue, and as I pass through the white clouds at high speed, the image ofa city with countless rivers branching and flowing emerges from the haze.
As I look closely, I can see the rivers branching into smaller irrigation
channels equipped with smaller sluices and hydroelectric generators. The
sluices and generators are networked, and the amount of water flowing
through the town is managed smartly. Black rain clouds can be seen
behind the mountains. A wide-area sensor network is monitoring andforecasting rainfall and river water levels and computing an appropriate
drainage program from the town (UC3-2).
As I approach the mountainous area where I am going to be, I notice
work drones shining in the vast red pine forest. Multiple robots are29

cooperating with each other in thinning, collecting, and transporting thetrees, to maintain and manage the forest to maximize the flood control
effect (UC3-2). Even so, in parts the mountain has collapsed, and the
spreading red pine forest is streaked with many lines of reddish-brownsoil. I can see the broken steel bridge that the drones are repairing (UC32). No matter how smart we become, we will probably never be able toeliminate the damage caused by natural disasters.
Finally, I arrive at my destination, the community center. I dive into a
receiving pod about 5 meters in diameter near the public hall (UC3-1). A
surprisingly quiet landing, thanks to the technology that collects heat andsound from the impact and stores it efficiently in the battery. After a few
minutes of safety checks, the staff take out relief supplies from mybackpack. I heard a cheer in the distance.
Made of heat-resistant ceramic equipped with an inertial sensor andspace-time synchronization unit, I finish one task and am collected in a
maintenance box for the next dive. “Hi, Mr. Staff, when the bridge is fixed,
please wash and pour in some fragrant oil. Next, I want to do a rocket
entry into the atmosphere (UC3-1).
3.3.3 What Is in the Sky?

I make a cup of coffee and sit down at my desk at home. The chirpingof sparrows and the cold air are refreshing. Facing the widescreen, I
quietly read over and modify the assignment report I completed last night.
There is no physical keyboard. I tap a keyboard hologram, and with motion
capture, the input is sent to the edge cloud. The only noise is the soundof my grandfather tuning up a bicycle (UC3-3). He is 77 years old and stillgoing strong. It’s about time for me to start teaching at a university
abroad. I submit a report and switch my mind from student to lecturer
30(UC1-3). I reach for my headset while eating inarizushi (sushi wrapped infried tofu) made by my cousin. I realize now that this is why he asked me
the day before yesterday about his grandfather’s favorite food. I casually
look at my palm and long, slender fingers. I must have taken after myfather.
I get on my bike, which is now tuned up, and call out to my
granddaughter upstairs. “Hey, I’m going out for a while!” There is no reply.
She must be in a lecture. Sorry about that! I am driving at full speed on a
big highway (UC3-1). The hood of my brand-new purple hoodie flutters.
The wind is pleasant. There is no car on the road. Lightweight delivery
drones fly over low-rise areas, personal cars fly over mid-rise areas, andlarge transport planes fly over high-rise areas. In addition, there are also
large warehouses in the stratosphere, from which packages can bedelivered directly to remote locations (UC3-1). A large transportation
skycar casts a shadow on my path. I pedal harder, trying not to let it pullaway from me. When I notice the rain cloud radar alert and try to returnhome (UC3-2), a ray of light flicks across the sky toward the mountain
where a large landslide has occurred (UC3-1).
3.3.4 Case Examples of Usage and Key Technologies Required for
ImplementationUC3-1: Vertical Flow of People, Things, and Information
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
Skycar is a dream-

Large warehouse in the stratosphereinspiring
technology. Dronedeliveryservicesarealready

starting around us,
and delivery fromthestratospheremay

becomepractical

inFigure 3.21: Vertical flow of people,
things, and information.

thefuture.

Whenmovingthree

dimensionally in space, we cannot rely on 2D maps; three-dimensional
31

navigation is essential. And if we’re carrying people or heavy objects,
navigation must be extremely reliable. In addition to the conventional
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), it is important to use
multiple positioning and navigation systems with the assistance of alarge number of base stations that enable edge computing, and toincrease the stability and accuracy of the clock and inertial sensor of
the skycar.
Usage:
Building invisible but solid “roads” in space means developing highly
accurate space-time synchronization technology and spatial andfrequency multiplexing of positioning base stations. Of course, it isalso important to improve the accuracy of various sensors and thesophistication of cyber security in order to ensure the safety ofvehicles traveling in the sky.
Required key technologies:(T5) Space-time synchronization technology(T6) Encryption and security technologies, resilience(T1) Ultra-high-speed and high-capacity wireless communication(T2) Ultra-low latency network(T2.1) Edge computing(T7.6) Passenger skycar(T7.7) Drone

UC3-2: Resilient Village Forest (Satoyama)
What kind of system? Why do we need it?
Flood control is a difficult problem to solve amid population decline.
In some cases, on-the-spot human judgment alone may not provide
the optimal solution. A high-density precipitation sensor network thatcan provide accurate and wide-ranging information is needed to help
speed up and improve the efficiency of evacuation of residents. In
addition, by parallelizing irrigation channels and sluice gates andconnecting them via a network, it will be possible to carry out smart
drainage from the town. Thinning work is also important to strengthen
the flood control function of forests. By synchronously controlling32

Figure 3.22: Resilient village forest (Satoyama) (UC3-2).
multiple unmanned robots and efficiently carrying out thinning
operations, forests can be kept in good condition. This cooperative
work of robots can also be deployed to agriculture as well as to themaintenance and management of “Satoyama.”
Usage:
By creating a large-scale network for flood forecasting, evacuation ofresidents, dam discharge, and control of sluice gates in various
irrigation channels, which have not been sufficiently coordinated, we
can plan cities that are resilient against floods without the need forhuman resources. By synchronizing and cooperating with a large
number of unmanned robots, it will be possible to continuously
preserve forests through thinning, maintain “Satoyama,” and improvethe efficiency of farming.
Required key technologies:(T5) Robot group coordination by space-time synchronization(T6) Encryption and security technology(T6) Strengthened resilience(T1) Ultra-high-speed and high-capacity wireless communication(T2) Ultra-low delay network and high-speed image processing*(Remote) sensor networkUC3-3: Omni-Cloud Gateway
What kind of system? Why do we need it?

33

Until now, the cloudhas been the place
to

go

for

connectivity, but asedge

computingadvances,

weareentering an era of
the
where

omni-cloud,wesurrounded

areFigure 3.23: Omni-cloud gateway (UC3-3).

bycloud resources. The omni-cloud provides computing resources,
information resources, communications resources, and even power
resources. The key will be the gateway that connects us to the cloud.
For example, a drone that stays close to us will become a security
gateway, allowing us to receive advanced cloud services without
having to carry devices, while protecting our personal information.
Usage:
High-precision positioning is achieved with an ultra-stable clock andtransmitted radio waves for drones. By combining images among
multiple drones whose attitude is controlled by high-precision
gyroscopes, the location of a user can be identified, and services canbe provided by video, audio, etc. It will also be possible to reallocate
resources more efficiently by redistributing security levels locally anddynamically according to usage.
Required key technologies:(T5) Ultra-stable clock and high-precision synchronization(T6) Privacy protection and security technology(T1) Ultra-high-speed and high-capacity wireless communication(T2) Ultra-low delay network, high-speed image processing(T7.7) Micro-drones*

High-accuracy inertial sensor

34

Chapter 4: Key Technologies for Beyond 5G/6G
4.1 Technologies Enabling Use Cases
Chapter 3 introduced three scenarios and several use cases withineach scenario. Chapter 4 describes the key technologies that support
these use cases, as summarized in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1: Key Technologies enabling Beyond 5G/6G
T1.

Ultra-High Speed & High-Capacity WirelessCommunication

T5. Time-Space Synchronization

T1.1 Terahertz wave
T1.2
T1.3

T5.1 Wireless time-space synchronization

All-optical network (high-capacity optical fiber

T5.2 Atomic clock chips

communication)
All-optical network (optical and radio convergence

T5.3 Generating & Sharing technology for reference time

technology)

T2. Ultra-Low Latency and Ultra-Massive
Connectivity

T6. Ultra-Security and Reliability
T6.1 Emerging security technologies
Cyber security technologies based on real attack

T2.1 Edge computing technology

T6.2

T2.2 Adaptive wireless network construction techniquesT6.3 Quantum cryptography

T2.3 Adaptive wireless network application technologies

T6.4 Electromagnetic compatibility

T2.4

Technologies for autonomous localization, tracking,T6.5 Resilient ICT

and reservation of radio emission space
Ultra-multi-connected autonomous M2M network

T7. Ultra-Reality and Innovative Applications

T2.5 construction technology using ubiquitous social
T7.1

resources

T2.6 Advanced radio emulation

T7.2

T3. Wired / Wireless communication
and Network Control Technology
T3.1

T7.3

Network control technologies (network operation
automation, in-network computing)T3.2 Frequency allocation and sharing management
T3.3

Brain information reading, visualization, and BMI
technologies
Intuition measurement, communication, andassurance technologies
Real 3D avatars, sensory communication, and XR

technology

AI analysis and dialogue technology using

T7.4 linguistic and extra-linguistic information

Self-operated wireless system management (Local
B5G/6G)

T4. Multi-Layers in Wireless Systems-NTN
T4.1

data

T7.5

Satellite and non-terrestrial communication
platforms

Simultaneous interpretation, paraphrasing, andsummarization technologies for multiple languages

T7.6 Automated driving

T4.2 Optical satellite communications

T7.7 Drones

T4.3 Maritime communications
T4.4 Underwater and submarine communications
T4.5 Integrated network control

35

4.2 Outline of Technology
4.2.1 Ultra-High-Speed and High-Capacity Wireless Communications
T1.1 Terahertz wave

① Technology: The word“terahertz”

Measurement
technology

generallymeans an intermediate
frequency

band

between radio and lightwaves(approximately

Semiconductor /circuit technology

Terahertz wave

100 GHz to 10 THz),
which

has

not

fully

employed

been
intelecommunications
due

totechnical

Antenna technology
Figure 4.1 Key technologies forhandling terahertz.

difficulties.

② Purpose: Since the frequencies of terahertz waves are an order ofmagnitude higher than those typically used for conventional radiowave communications, wireless communications with more than 10times higher speed and capacity are anticipated. The wirelesstransmission of high-definition video such as 4K and 8K has alreadybeen demonstrated. In addition, terahertz waves are expected to berobustagainstradio

interference

when

used

for

wireless

communications due to their unique (short-range and ultra-wideband)characteristics.
③ Background: Technologies for handling terahertz waves are not yet
mature. However, the development of fundamental technologies for
300 GHz band wireless communications including terahertz signal
generation, modulation, and demodulation using both semiconductors
and photonics devices are rapidly progressing [1] [2].
④ Requirements:

The

foundationsofterahertz

wireless

communications call for various peripheral technologies related to
semiconductor devices, electronic circuits, and antennas, enabling
low-noise signal generation and high-speed measurement such as
A/D conversion of terahertz waves themselves. Flexible approaches
from both radio-wave and optical domains also need to be taken. In
addition, practical techniques to reduce power consumption as well36

as device size are required, particularly for consumer applications.
[1] NICT Press Release: Terahertz wireless makes big strides in paving
the way to technological singularity, February 19, 2019https://www.nict.go.jp/en/press/2019/02/19-1.html[2] NICT Press Release: Successful 300 GHz terahertz wirelesscommunication using ultra-small antenna, January 13, 2021
https://www.nict.go.jp/press/2021/01/13-1.html

T1.2 All-optical network (high-capacity optical fiber communication)① Technology: This technology concerns optical fiber, which is a thinglass fiber. It is possible to transmit a large amount of data at highspeed to another country thousands of kilometers away. It is widelyused for home and corporate networks, mobile phone networks,
submarine cables connecting Japan and overseas, and so on.
② Purpose: As the number of people who work remotely at home or enjoy
movies and anime through video streaming services increases, moredata is transmitted and received over networks, causing data
congestion. For this reason, high-capacity fiber-optic communications
are needed to ensure smooth data transmission.
③ Background: Current optical fiber communication systems provide
transmission capacity of up to 10 Tbps per optical fiber [1].
④ Requirements: In order to support the ever-increasing volume of datain the future, basic networks in the 2030s will require a transmission
capacity of at least 100 Tbps per optical fiber, followed by atransmission capacity of at least 1 Pbps.
[1] Report of Study Group on Future Network Infrastructure (Ministry ofInternal Affairs and Communications)

T1.3 All-optical network (optical and radio convergence technology)① Technology: This technology is used to distribute large amounts ofdata generated in wireless sections such as IoT devices, mobile
terminals and so on, to optical fiber networks, and large amounts ofdata processed in data centers and edge servers to wireless sections
via optical fiber networks.
② Purpose: In daily life, people often move around such as when37

exercising and shopping, but expect the quality of communications
not to drop. To realize a sophisticated cyber-physical society in the
future, it is necessary to utilize high-availability, high-flexibility andhigh-capacity

communications

while

successfully

converging

wireless with optical fiber communications.
③ Background: The ITU-T SG 13 FG-NET-2030 Network 2030 Vision
White Paper discusses the need for Tbps class high-capacity
communication as a holographic society.
④ Requirements: A communication system is needed that enables highcapacity communication from 100 Gbps to Tbps, which is equivalent to
10 to 100 times the capacity of 5G, with low latency between opticalfiber communication sections and wireless communication sections in
an area for dedicated moderate range communication (DMRC) of
several tens of kilometers. Additionally, there is a need for a massively
integrated device technology for the convergence of optical and radio
waves, to support the construction of this system.

38

Table 4.2: Roadmap of ultra-high-speed and high-capacity wirelesscommunications

4.2.2 Ultra-Low Latency and Ultra-Massive Connectivity
T2.1 Edge computing technology① Technology: This technology uses devices embedded in the city andcomputers in the network to provide ICT services with ultra-low
latency and high reliability.
② Purpose: For example, if a computer that is running a process to avoid
a vehicle accident at a corner is actually located in the cloud far away
via the network, it will not be able to respond in time. In addition,communication may be delayed by network congestion. Furthermore,even when it is convenient, people do not want to leak sensitive
information including bio-information to external networks or the
cloud. Therefore, security is also essential.
③ Background: The European Telecommunications Standards Institute(ETSI) is conducting standardization for edge computing by multiaccess edge computing (MEC) as well as regulation of 5G provision.
“Network Vision 2030” presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications states the need for ultra-low latency and high39

capacity communications using edge computing. The White Paper of
5G Americas proposes the future direction of edge computing
architecture

includingcollaboration

withinformation-centric

networking.
④ Requirements: Ultra-low latency response, trade-off solution of
information integrity, reliability, and security, and scalability to realize
network computing in which a large number of devices connect to andinteract with the network are required.
T2.2 Adaptive wireless network construction techniques① Technology:
controls

This

technology

modulation,transmission

timing, relay routes, etc. in order torealize high-level actions by wirelessdevices cooperating according tosituations and requirements.
② Purpose:

This

Figure 4.3: Intermittent

technologyisindispensable for various wirelesswaiting action for saving
power.

systems including IoT and monobased systems, and satisfies the following requirements: 1) Adjusts
high-speedtransmission

androbustnessinresponsetothecommunication environment, and makes the communication efficient.
2) Enables power-saving operation and low-latency transmission while
avoiding collision and congestion by controlling transmission timing.
3) By exchanging control information between wireless devices andestablishingrelay

routesautonomously

anddispersively,

theaccessible area is extended.
③ Background: There are standards such as IEEE 802.15.4 (physicallayer and MAC layer) and IEEE 802.15.10 (L2R) that have beenstandardized with the leadership of NICT. In addition, Wi-SUN, theworld’s first certification referring to these standards, has been
established; NICT is one of the founding members.
④ Requirements: In order to realize a large number of wirelesscommunication devices, it is essential to satisfy the requirements ofmachines rather than humans, such as operation for 10 years or more
without battery replacement, and to be able to perform autonomous
40

distributed operation.

Figure 4.4: Demonstration of low-power operation(left: fishery, right: farming).

T2.3 Adaptive wireless network application technologies① Technology: This technology handles session management, timesynchronization, and the application interface in order to realize theadvanced action of multiple wireless devices cooperating according to
the situation and requirements.
② Purpose: This technology is indispensable for various wireless systems
including IoT and mono-based systems, and satisfies the following
requirements: 1) Optimizes information exchange by prioritizing
sessionmanagement

andtraffic

coordination.

2)

Realizes

communication between wireless devices via wide-area backbone
networks, etc., and compensates for time synchronization between
wireless devices according to the assumed service. 3) Visualizes theconnections among wireless devices used for communication, andhandles the application interface that allows the operator to set up ahuge number of wireless devices appropriately and efficiently.
③ Background: Standards such as ECHONET LITE (session layer orhigher) exist [1].
④ Requirements: It is necessary to establish an appropriate userinterface in addition to time synchronization of the application toguarantee the upper-layer operation.

41

Figure 4.5: App interface for visualizing radio device operation(left: radio devices, right: connection status).
[1] ECHONET Lite, http://www.echonet.gr.jp/spec/

T2.4

Technologies

forautonomous

localization,

tracking,

andreservation of radio wave emission space① Technology: Mobile devices that intend to transmit information using
radio waves calculate the minimum necessary radio wave emission
space by autonomous or cooperative methods with other devices, and,based on the results, localize the radio wave emission space andperform tracking control along with movement. This technology shares
spectrum resources by predicting the future behavior of mobile
devices and making precise reservations (schedules) for the space
and time required to use radio wave resources.
② Purpose: By minimizing the physical radio wave emission space, it ispossibletosimultaneously

increasetherobustness

againstinterference (reliability) and security under the ultra-high-density
inter-device communication environment. In addition, by integrating
this technology with the technology for predicting the movement ofdevices in cyber space, it will be possible to secure communication
quality in preparation for future communication congestion.
③ Background: Electronic localization and tracking technology for radio
wave emission space has been put into practical use in mobile phonesystems and Wi-Fi systems as passive or active beamforming
technology, and has become a core technology as massive MIMO
technology [1] in 5G wireless communication systems.
④ Requirements: It is necessary to reduce the effective isotropic
radiated power (EIRP) of radio waves in an unplanned space to a level
where information cannot be restored even by an ultra-high-sensitivity
42

receiver, and to automatically track objects as they move (walkingspeed level). It is also necessary to accurately predict the arrival timeof devices at future destinations and the radio wave propagation
environment at such destinations, so that the optimal radio wave
emission space can be reserved with microsecond accuracy.
[1] 5G Multi Antenna Technology, NTT DOCOMO Technical Journal Vol. 23
No. 4, Jan. 2016.

T2.5 Ultra-multi-connected autonomous M2M network construction
technology using ubiquitous social resources① Technology:This

technology

autonomously

buildsmachine-to-machine (M2M) networks of ultra-multi-hopping relays by connecting
various ubiquitous social resources (fixed resources and mobile
resources) inside and outside the building, or a large number ofdevices equipped with them, autonomously (or upon request), bypassing communication systems that automatically share information
when devices pass each other.
② Purpose: Even in areas where facilities such as base stations andcommunication infrastructure operated by mobile operators are notreadily available, or in areas where installation itself is difficult, ultrawideband delay-tolerant networks can be configured in an extremely
eco-friendly manner over a wide range. (This provides a platform forautonomous participatory sensing and network building objects.)③ Background:

There

are

multiplecommunication

standards

andmethods that allow multiple devices located in the vicinity toautonomously connect to each other. As an example, in the field ofsmart meters in Japan, networks operating with several hundred to one
thousand units have been built, mainly using sub-gigabyte frequencies[1].
④ Requirements: It is necessary: 1) to be able to autonomously discover,secure, and manage ultra-multi-hopping relay devices related topropagation

paths

and

frequencies

suitablefor

information

propagation in accordance with environmental conditions, etc., and tohave an application programming interface (API) and appropriate userinterface for that purpose, 2) to be able to secure and manage thenecessary resources to ensure a certain level of time synchronization
43

and reliability, and 3) to be able to autonomously eliminate information
whose value has already disappeared or information that violates
discipline.
[1] Wireless Mesh Network Technology for Smart Meters, Mitsubishi
Electric Technical Report, Vol. 86, No. 11, 2012.

T2.6 Advanced radio emulation① Technology: This technology enables new technology evaluation andlarge-scale system verification to be conducted in a short time and at
low cost by simulating the radio wave propagation between wirelessdevices based on the assumed scenario of users in a virtual space withhigh accuracy.
② Purpose: It is difficult, both financially and physically, to conduct fieldtests of new technologies for effectively using frequencies and testsof large-scale systems with several thousand units. The use of anadvanced wireless emulator enables highly reproducible evaluationsand verifications in various environments.
③ Background: One of the representative initiatives overseas is the SC2
project of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)[1]. It held a spectrum sharing technology contest with multiple
scenarios tailored to the real world.
④ Requirements: Quasi real-time emulation to set mobile routes duringrunning scenarios, large-scale system verification capability of 10,000
units, radio wave emission pattern emulation of beamforming, and 400
MHz band signal processing assuming Beyond 5G/6G.

Figure 4.6: Advanced radio wave emulation.
[1]

DARPA,“Spectrum

Collaboration

https://archive.darpa.mil/SC2/

44

Challenge(SC2),”

Table 4.3: Roadmap for ultra-low latency and ultra-massive connectivity

45

4.2.3 Wired/Wireless Communication and Network Control
T3.1 Network control technologies (network operation automation, innetwork computing)① Technology: This networking technology ensures high sustainability
for diverse service requirements in the future. These include: 1)
technologies for fully automating network operations utilizing network
telemetry and AI/machine-learning-based advanced data analysis
mechanisms, and 2) ultra-low latency and highly reliable in-network
computing technologies applying information-centric networking andedge networking.
② Purpose: In order to realize a safe, secure, and convenient society inthe 6G era, the above technologies are essential to resolve futuresocial issues such as a decrease in the working-age population, tosatisfy the application requirements of the 6G era, and to select andagilely provide truly necessary, valid, and reliable information from ahuge amount of information.
③ Background: The new network for 6G “Network 2030” advocated by
ITU-T is a globally competitive research field [1]. In the EU, the “6Genesis” project led by the University of Oulu in Finland is under way[2], while in Japan, NTT DoCoMo and NEC published White Papers on
Beyond 5G and 6G in 2020 [3,4]. In the US, 5G Americas proposed tointegrateedge

computingandinformation-centric

networking

technologies as a future direction in the White Paper “5G at the Edge”[5].
④ Requirements: Technologies for automating network operations byutilizing open source frameworks are needed to minimize humanoperations. In addition, advanced mechanisms are required toguarantee

application

quality(ultra-low

latency,high-speed

processing, fault tolerance, etc.) and reliability of information.
[1]

https://www.itu.int/en/ITUT/focusgroups/net2030/Documents/White_Paper.pdf[2] https://www.oulu.fi/6gflagship/[3]
https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/binary/pdf/corporate/technology/white
paper_6g/DOCOMO_6G_White_PaperJP_20210203.pdf[4]46

https://jpn.nec.com/nsp/5g/beyond5g/pdf/NEC_B5G_WhitePaper_1.0.
pdf[5]

https://www.5gamericas.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/5GAmericas-EDGE-White-Paper-FINAL.pdf

T3.2 Frequency allocation and sharing management① Technology:This

technology

allocates

frequencies

tomobileoperators, as well as enables sharing and dynamic allocation among
multiple parties, in line with the diversification of communication
applications and the use of high-frequency bands.
② Purpose: Beyond 5G/6G requires dynamic operation of spectrum
sharing using databases and autonomous operation using new radio
access methods in addition to the existing spectrum sharing methods
in which mobile operators occupy frequency bands for 4G or acompany holds a license for local 5G, in order to increase the spectrum
utilization per bandwidth by shortening the time to start the operationof dynamically allocated spectrum.
③ Background: In Japan, in addition to the bands allocated for mobile
operators, shared bands are allocated for local 5G operators [1]. For
Beyond 5G/6G, many experts have suggested that users should be
able to acquire necessary frequencies by spectrum sharing [2].
④ Requirements:It(broker/middleware)isnecessarytodevelopthat

automaticallyacquiresthesoftwarespectrum

resources required for users, visualize spectrum operation, andallocate resources by calculating radio interference with simulators
utilizing dynamic database, block chain, and digital twin technologies.
[1] https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000711788.pdf[2]https://www.6gworld.com/videos/spectrum-sharing-in-6g6gsymposium/

T3.3 Self-operated wireless system management (Local B5G/6G)① Technology: Local 5G is a unique Japanese system for using advanced
5G technology for private wireless systems. The functions are
expected to be customized according to the needs of the location andregion.
② Purpose: The system offers both stability and confidentiality, and is47

expected to be used for industrial and regional applications such as
factory

automation

systemsanddisasterprevention/mitigation

systems through infrastructure monitoring.
③ Background: In Japan, 4.6–4.9 GHz and 28.2–29.1 GHz have been
allocated and their deployment has started [1]. Other countries, suchas Germany, have similar systems.
④ Requirements: Even at present, it is necessary to coordinate with otherlocal 5G operators in the vicinity, but in the future, coordination withthe public network and remote Local 5G is expected. It is important toutilize other technologies such as CPSs in order to create a systemthat maintains customizability and confidentiality while avoiding
interference.

Figure 4.7: Private wireless system management (Local 5G).

[1] Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Guidelines for
Introduction

to

Local

5G,

latestrevisioninDecemberhttps://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000722596.pdf

48

2020.

Table 4.4: Roadmap for wired and wireless communication and network
control

2020 - 2024

2025 - 2029

2030 - 2034

2035~

Variety of services
Ultra High Capacity

4K/8K Streaming / xR

Ultra Low Latency,
Ultra High Capacity

3D / Hologram

Ultra Low Latency,
Ultra Massive Connectivity

Connected cars / autonomous driving

Ultra Low Latency,
Ultra Massive Connectivity

Robot control and communication

Ultra Low Latency,
Ultra Massive Connectivity,
Ultra High Capacity

Smart city

Key technology
T3.1 Network control technologies (network operation automation)
Rule-based flow
automation technology
for network operations
processes(automation level 2)

Technology for
automated judgmentof network operation
processes by utilizing
AI, etc.
(automation level 3)

Network operation fully
automation (control
management) in specificenvironments(automation level 4)

Network operation fully
automation (control
management) in any
environment(automation level 5)

T3.1 Network control technologies (in-network computing)
Performance evaluationof communication
protocols and algorithms
by simulation, and theirverification using real
networks (TRL level 4-5)

T3.2 Frequency
allocation andsharingmanagement

T3.3 Self-operated
wireless systemmanagement (Local
B5G/6G)

Reinforcement of in-network computing
function infrastructure by interworking withedge computing technology andblockchain, and demonstration of
application services (TRL level 6)

Network providers/operators,
vendors, and application
developers deploy and utilize thetechnologies in their networks
and/or systems (TRL level 7 and 8)

Monopolistic frequency assignment(Bandwidth allocated to mobile operator and infrastructure developed by mobile operator)
Shared frequency assignment(In the case of investment by companies, etc., licenses are granted in separate areas)
Dynamic spectrum sharing(Dynamic adjustment of frequency
allocation using databases, etc.)
Autonomous spectrum sharing(Autonomous Control by Access
Method, etc.)

Dynamic radio resource
Establishment ofallocation technology

Establishment of
backbone network
routing technology

49

Establishment of timesynchronization
technology

Fusion?

4.2.4 Multi-Layering of Wireless Systems – NTN
T4.1 Satellite and non-terrestrial communication platforms① Technology: This technology
enables

wireless

communication

systemstoseamlessly connect from thegroundtoaltitudemobility,
platformhighstation(HAPS), satellites and deepspaceprobesinthreedimensions.
② Purpose:Bymakingitpossible to communicate withall areas, people will be abletousevariouscommunications in a futuresocietyenvironment

where

the

will

be

Figure 4.8: Satellite and nonterrestrial communication

platforms and their requirements.

continuously changing.
③ Background: As satellite communications have increased in capacity(High-Throughput Satellites: HTS) withshorter delay (low-Earth-orbit satellites) [1], HAPS have been actively developed [2]. Nonterrestrial networks (NTN) are being standardized by 3GPP.
④ Requirements: For practical application, wireless communication
systems on each platform are required to be high-speed, highcapacity, flexible, compact, and low-cost in order to seamlessly
connect with heterogeneous systems.
[1] Rep. ITU-R M.2460-0[2] https://hapsalliance.org/

T4.2 Optical satellite communications① Technology:This

technology

provideshigh-capacity

wireless

communication using light (laser) in space, aiming for ultra-highspeed, low latency and broadband communication.

50

② Purpose: While the amountof data generated by earth
observation

satellites

isincreasing, there is a limittohigh-speed

communication in the radio
frequency
speed

band.

opticalHighwirelesstechnology is powerful forlarge-capacity

image

transfer and long-distance

Figure 4.9: Use of optical

data communications.

satellite communications.

③ Background:communications

Optical
of

1.8

Gbps

[1]

for

inter-satellite

opticalcommunications using geostationary satellites, 5.5 Gbps [2] for intersatellite optical communications using low-earth orbit satellites, and5.12 Gbps [3] for ground-to-satellite optical communications havebeen demonstrated in space.
④ Requirements: In optical communications, the beam is sharp, so opticalcommunication

devices

andcapture/tracking

deviceswithcapture/tracking/directional functions are required. For practicalapplication, communication speeds of 10–50 Gbps class, which is anorder of magnitude higher than the present level, and communication
technology connecting multiple different networks are also required.
[1] https://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/project/lucas/[2] https://earth.esa.int/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/t/terrasar-x,
http://satcom.jp/44/reportj2.pdf[3] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=8357402

T4.3 Maritime communications① Technology: This technology provides M2M data transmission andhigh-speed, high-capacity networks to ships on the ocean.
② Purpose: The sharing of high-speed and high-capacity data over theocean and land is effective for automated navigation, efficient use of51

marine resources, maritime security, and onboard broadband.
③ Background: Several tens of Mbps are provided in the global service,
but

the

size

of

the

communicationequipment and cost are
obstaclesdue

restrictions

tooninstallation locations [1].
④ Requirements:
speed,

Ahigh-

low-cost,

small-

sized

broadbandcommunication system is

Figure 4.10: Image of maritime

needed across the globe,
includingthecommunications.

Arcticregion, with a view to future unmanned operations.
[1] Toward the Spread of High-Speed Communications at Sea (Final
Report), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, MLIT, MAFF,
March 2018.

T4.4 Underwater and submarine communications① Technology: This technology provides communication under the sea
where it is difficult to use radio waves. Conventional communication
using sound waves has problems of slow communication speed andlarge propagation delay. However, the use of radio waves enables
high-speed and low-delay communication.
② Purpose: For bridge maintenance, IoT fishery, seabed exploration, etc.,
wireless communication technology is necessary to complement
communication that is difficult with sound and light.
③ Background: The Aqua Local Area Network (ALAN) consortium has
been established, and underwater communication using visible light inparticular is drawing attention [1].
④ Requirements: Higher speeds of several Mbps or more, longer
distances of several tens of meters, and smaller and lighter antennas
are required for mounting on ships and underwater robots, taking into
consideration the water resistance.
[1] https://www.trimatiz.com/jp/consortium/alan.html

52

T4.5 Integrated network control① Technology: This technology
links

deep-spaceprobes,geostationary satellites, lowearth orbit satellites, HAPS,
aircraft,drones,ships,

groundstations,

Beyond

5G/6G, etc. in a multi-layered
andorganic

manner,andflexibly controls the platform
and network connection usedaccording to the service.
② Purpose: It is possible tobuild a system that avoids
interruptionofcommunication
such

as

remoteanywhere,aircraft,islands,

ships,

Figure 4.11: Image of theintegrated network architecture.

deserts,

mountains, planets, etc., in response to user requests such as forInternetuse,

emergency

remotedisasterinformationcollection,

countermeasures,

remoteinfectious

control,diseasecountermeasures (remote work, etc.).
③ Background: Regarding satellite 5G collaboration, the SATis5 Project[1] of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the SAT5G Project [2] of
the European Union have been implemented. In Japan, a subcommitteeof the Space ICT Promotion Forum [3] is studying new use cases forcollaboration between satellites and Beyond 5G/6G.
④ Requirements: Standardization of each platform and development of
infrastructure for integrated network systems (such as satelliteground resource management functions) are required.

53

Table 4.5: Roadmap of multi-layering of wireless systems with nonterrestrial network (NTN)

2020 - 2024

2025 - 2029

2030 - 2034

Automated vessel
Lunar Gateway
T4.1 Satellite andnon-terrestrial
communication
platforms

T4.2 Opticalsatellite
communications

T4.3 Maritime
communications

T4.4 Underwaterand submarine
communications

T4.5 Integrated
network control

Flying car

Hybrid technology of radio waves and lightFlexible and digital technology
Miniaturization anddiffusion technology(Flat Antenna, etc.)

2035~
Lunar surface development
survey started
2040 - Settlement
2045 - Pioneering
2050 - Lunar City

Low-Orbit Constellation Optical Communication Network
Technology and Miniaturization / Capacity enlargement(optical integration, WDM)
Large optical antenna technology (adaptive optics technology for space)
Adaptive optical satellite communications technology(self-healing and robust optical link technology)
Miniaturization anddiffusion technology(Flat Antenna, etc.)
Ship IoT technology
High-speed by multivalue and MIMO Longdistance under the sea
Downsizing and weight
reduction of underwaterand underwater
antennas

Extension to technology
in fresh water(Maintenance ofbridges, dams, etc.)

Extension to technology
in Shallow Water(Maintenance of ports
and airports, fishery IoT)

Extension totechnologies in the
deep sea(Seabed Resource
Exploration)

Multilayer network interconnection technology
Space-time synchronization technology
Distributed information management technology[1] https://artes.esa.int/projects/satis5-0[2] https://www.sat5g-project.eu/[3] https://spif.nict.go.jp/

4.2.5 Space-Time Synchronization
T5.1 Wireless space-time synchronization① Technology: This technology provides time synchronization and mutual
positioning by wireless technology for remote devices to work
cooperatively. High-precision space-time synchronization can berealizedeasilyandinexpensively

byincorporating

advanced

technologies used to compare Japan Standard Time (JST) with
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) into wireless communication
devices.
② Purpose: For example, by applying space-time synchronization to a 3D
printer, it is possible to create shapes of any size without being54

constrained by thesize of the frame,
and

it

is

also

possible to createshapes rapidly bylinking

multiplerobots. In addition,

Figure 4.12: Space-time synchronized 3D

cost-effective,

printer.

easy-to-use

androbust space-time synchronization technology is essential for thediversification of computing resources.
③ Background: The 5G Technical Specification (3GPP TS v. 18) requires
time synchronization with a low delay of less than 1 ms and jitter ofless than 1 microsecond from end to end for multi-robot collaboration.
Asapositioning

technology,

GNSS

(GPS,

etc.),

beacons,

Wi-

Fi/Bluetooth technology, etc. are combined to measure the position,and the position measurement accuracy of 20 cm is required at thehighest service level (see the 3GPP document mentioned above).
④ Requirements:
Case 1) Inventory in warehouse/indoor robot coordination:
・ Time synchronization accuracy 1 microsecond, communication
delay (end to end) < 1 millisecond, position measurement
accuracy 1 cm
Case 2) Vertical traffic control:・ Time synchronization accuracy 1 microsecond, communication
delay (end to end) < 1 millisecond, position measurement
accuracy 5 m
T5.2 Chip-scale atomic clock① Technology: This technology provides a super stable clock signal that
does not deviate in frequency. The clock is an important piece ofequipment that controls the operation of onboard equipment.
However, the control is only applied to the installed equipment. This isbecause traditional clocks vary depending on the environment inwhich they are used. By stabilizing the clock to the atomic frequency
standard, you can synchronize and control the clocks of all devices in55

a single synchronization.
② Purpose: The age of cloud computing and the age of real-timeprocessing of huge amounts of computation by multiple computers will
come. By synchronizing and tuning the clock, it is possible to use an
infinite number of machines as if using a desktop PC. This will extend
to distributed avatars and connected cars.
③ Background: Microwave atomic clocks of several centimeters square
are sold as modules mainly in Europe and America [1]. In Japan, similar
atomic clock modules have been developed under the leadership of
AIST [2]. On the other hand, in the case of clocks that are several
centimeters square, the market is small other than for dual-use, and it
is not easy to promote social implementation in Japan. In the next
phase of R&D, we need a scenario for further miniaturization and lowpower-consumption expansion.
④ Requirements:
Edge computing size < 5 cc, power consumption < several mW
Personal device size < 1 cc, power consumption < several hundredmW[1] R. Lutwak et al., The MAC-a Miniature Atomic Clock, in Proc. IFCS2005,
p. 752.
[2] H. Zhang et al., ULPAC: A Miniaturized Ultralow-Power Atomic Clock,IEEE JSSC, 54(11), 2019, p. 3135.

T5.3 Generating & sharing technology for reference time
① Technology: This technology creates and shares a highly disasterresistant virtual standard time by using a large number of clocks in a
local network, and provides efficient intra-regional communications.
At the same time, network participants can easily synchronize withabsolute time such as standard time or Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC) by relying on this shared time.
② Purpose: Next-generation data exchange requires flexibility to achieveboth 1) high-speed and high-precision relative time differences overshort distances, such as for automatic driving, and 2) absolute timestamps between servers around the world. In information systems,
clock management is required to accommodate these requirements.
③ Background: With the emergence of Local 5G, the concept of a local
56

standard time is being recognized, and in the future, ways to createand share it will be discussed and developed. On the other hand, thedevelopment of an optical frequency standard with high accuracy isadvancing in metrology research labs and universities in Japan andoverseas. By commercializing this product, it is possible to maintainsynchronization with absolute time for a considerable period of timein an isolated state, and to maintain the availability of clock
management.
④ Requirements: High-speed and highly-efficient data exchange in local
networks requires relative time accuracy at the picosecond level. Dataexchange based on universal timestamps requires absolute time
accuracy at the microsecond level.

Table 4.6: Roadmap for space-time synchronization

4.2.6 Ultra-Security and Reliability
T6.1 Emerging security technologies① Technologies: This technology creates Beyond 5G/6G infrastructureand new services with security.
② Purpose: In a society where Beyond 5G/6G has been realized, various
57data in the real space will be sent to the cyber space in real time, andcontrol in the real space will be performed based on the results
analyzed in the cyber space (e.g., self-driving, digital twin). Integrated
security from the hardware layer to the software layer is important as
infrastructure. In addition, technologies are required to identify
security issues and use them safely and securely for new technologies
and services provided on this infrastructure.
③ Background: 5G security is being discussed by various organizations,
including the 3GPP Security Working Group (SAWG3) and the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) NCCoE Project.
However, the definition of Beyond 5G/6G has not been establishedand will be discussed in the future. In the area of IoT security, R&D on
supply chain risk management measures is under way in the Crossminiature Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) project.
④ Requirements: Hardware (sensors, drones, satellites, etc.) security
technology(anti-tamper

technology,

hardwaretrojandetectiontechnology, measurement and control security technology, etc.).
Security technologies for real data processing software and clouds(vulnerability detection, data-protection technologies, adversarial
attack resistant AI technologies, DoS attack protection technologies,etc.). Beyond 5G/6G infrastructure security technology, and security
technologies for new technologies and services (automated driving,
unmanned delivery, XR, satellite and HAPS communications, etc.) are
required.
T6.2 Cyber security technologies based on real attack data
① Technology: This technology provides large-scale attack observationand visualization to respond to increasingly diverse and sophisticatedcyber-attacks, and cross-analyzes large-scale aggregated information
to derive countermeasures.
② Purpose: In a society where Beyond 5G/6G has been realized, a huge
number of devices will be connected to each other with ultra-highspeed, low latency and large capacity. In other words, as the numberof devices subject to attack increases and an attacker takes over many
devices, a large-scale attack becomes possible. Therefore, technology
for real-time, large-scale observation and analysis of attacks and58

automatic countermeasures is necessary for the stable use of Beyond
5G/6G.
③ Background: The Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA) in
the U.S. and NICT have constructed one of the largest darknet
monitoring

systems

in

the

world

for

monitoring

worldwide

indiscriminate attacks. While R&D is actively being conducted aroundthe world on the integration of cyber security and AI, there aretechnical challenges to automation, including countermeasures, andease of interpreting the output of AI.
④ Requirements: Technology to observe diverse cyber-attacks including
indiscriminate attacks and targeted attacks, visualization technology
to grasp the situation from observed information, and technology toanalyze vast amounts of observation data in real time using AI
technology and derive automated countermeasures.
T6.3 Quantum cryptography① Technology: This technology is an encryption method that uses ashared secret key to encrypt and transmit data using the properties ofquantum mechanics. It is possible to attain information theoretic
security that cannot be deciphered in principle by any computer,including a quantum computer. This is the most secure cipher known
today.
② Purpose: In the network of Beyond 5G/6G, important information will
increasingly be placed in cyber space. Quantum cryptography canprotect national secrets and security, and can protect information that
requires ultra-long-term confidentiality in fields such as medicine,finance, infrastructure, and smart manufacturing.
③ Background:Researchanddevelopment,

field

verification,

standardization, etc. are advancing in various countries around theworld, and practical application is starting. Japan has achieved theworld’s longest operation of a quantum cryptography network testbed
and the world’s first successful fundamental experiment of quantum
communications using ultra-small satellites. In addition, Japanesecompanies have begun to commercialize quantum cryptography
devices.
④ Requirements: Quantum key distribution (QKD) to share private keys,
59

QKD networking, QKD using artificial satellites, as well as theestablishment of standardization, evaluation and certification systems
for actual commercialization are necessary. It is also important todevelop technologies for the entire security system using quantum
cryptography, such as the quantum secure cloud technology originallydeveloped in Japan.
T6.4 Electromagnetic compatibility① Technology: This technology maintains the EMC in which wirelessdevices and electric and electronic devices around them can coexist
without interfering with each other. In addition, this technology
evaluates the amount of radio waves emitted from wireless devices
and electrical and electronic equipment that are absorbed by thehuman body (exposure), thereby creating an environment in whichradio waves can be used to the maximum without affecting health. This
includes the development of measuring instruments and highprecision, high-reliability radio wave measurement technology torealize these goals.
② Purpose: This is necessary for safe and secure radio wave usage andfor maintaining EMC.
③ Background:

Regardingelectromagnetic

noise

generatedfromelectrical and electronic equipment, the industry is conducting selfregulation (VCCI Council) with the expectation of using frequencies
up to 6 GHz. In the radio frequency radiation protection guideline ofJapan, frequencies up to 300 GHz are assumed to be used. There iscurrently no limit on using the terahertz band.
④ Requirements: Technologies are required to reduce the impact ofradio noise generated from electrical and electronic equipment on
advanced wireless devices, to appropriately evaluate such impact, toaccurately evaluate real-time and fluctuating exposure in diverse
radio wave applications, and to accurate evaluate exposure in the
millimeter and the terahertz bands in order to extend the adaptive
frequency range of the radio frequency radiation protection guideline
up to the terahertz band. As basic technologies for these, it isnecessary to establish laws and standards for measuring instrumentsin the terahertz band, as well as for primary standards, measuring60

methods, and evaluation methods.
T6.5 Resilient ICT① Technology: This technology provides temporary and continuous useof communication infrastructure (network, data observation andanalysis, etc.) even when the environment changes rapidly due tovarious failures and disasters.
② Purpose: An emergency network infrastructure is required in order tocarry out recovery work by sending in a group of robots where humanentry has become difficult due to a disaster. At the same time, network
infrastructure that continuously supports the observation and analysis
of natural environmental data and the distribution of local informationis necessary to ensure security and safety at any time and anywhere.
③ Background: ITU-T Technical Report [1] describes resilience as one of
the requirements for future networks. In addition, the 6th Basic Planfor Science, Technology and Innovation states that in order to reduce
risks

due

to

suddenchangessuchasnaturaldisasters,theGovernment will focus on strengthening resilience by using cuttingedge ICT in such areas as observation and prediction of natural
disasters and emergency response.
④ Requirements: As an emergency information-sharing platform, we aim
to realize the communication requirements (end-to-end (E2E) delay of
0.1 ms or less) required for remote control of a robot group at the
space ratio and time ratio of 99.99% or more, and as a continuous
information-sharing platform, we aim to realize an area coverage ratio
and availability of 99.99% or more.
[1] FG NET-2030 Sub-G1, Representative use cases and key network
requirements for Network 2030, Jan. 2020.

61

Table 4.7: Roadmap for ultra-security and reliability

62

4.2.7 Ultra-Reality and Innovative Applications
T7.1 Brain information reading, visualization, and BMI technologies① Technology: This technology controls various devices and provides
non-verbal communication (emotion, intelligibility, skill) by reading
and analyzing brain information with non-invasive or low-invasive
methods.
② Purpose: In addition to mutual understanding among diverse people
with different cultures and values, extra-linguistic communication andbrain-based device control facilitate social participation by the elderly
and disabled people.
③ Background: The social development of BMI systems using invasive
and non-invasive methods is starting both in Japan and overseas,
particularly for medical applications. However, both methods haveissues in terms of sensor, miniaturization, decoding, and wirelesscommunication technologies, and further advancement of each basic
technology is expected.
④ Requirements: Wireless communication of brain information requires
ultra-high-speed broadband communication, ultra-low latency, ultralarge

numberofsimultaneousconnections,ultra-low

power

consumption, ultra-security/reliability, and expandability.
T7.2

Intuitionmeasurement,

communication,andassurancetechnologies① Technology: This technology measures the discomfort felt during workin cyber space such as teleconferencing and remote control frombiosignals including brain information to maintain the intuition ofusers.
② Purpose: In cyber space work such as teleconferencing and remotecontrol, which are rapidly spreading due to the Covid-19 pandemic, theworkload on the brain is high, unlike in physical space. Therefore,technology that enables intuitive work in cyber space is necessary.
③ Background: Human-centric value creation is proposed for 5G/6G [1],but if intuition can be dynamically controlled at the cognitive level ofthe brain, teleconferencing and teleworking with less load on the brain
will become possible.
63

④ Requirements: In order tomaintain intuition, including
at the unconscious level, it isnecessary

toconstructabrain model that estimates
intuitionfromsignalssuch

biological
as

brain

information, and to perform
dynamic

delay

and

jittercontrol based on biologicalsignal feedback in wired andwireless

integrated

networks.
[1] 6G Flagship: Key Drivers
and Research Challenges
for 6G Ubiquitous WirelessFigure 4.13: Intuition measurement,
communication and assurance
technologies. .

Intelligence, University ofOulu (2019).

T7.3 Real 3D avatars, multisensory communication, and XR technology① Technology: This technology provides an ultra-reality communicationthatenablesnaturalreal

remoteand
XR

interaction

byinstantaneously creatinga 3D model of the bodyandenvironmenttransmitting

and
and

reproducing it along withmultisensory information(visual, auditory, tactile,
olfactory, etc.).
③ Purpose:

Ultra-reality

communication
technology
remotewill

Figure 4.14: Ultra-reality communication
enablecommunicationtranscending space, time and physicalbarriers.
64that transcends space, time, and physical barriers, and will contributeto the realization of a super-aged society in which labor productivity
and richness of the mind are dramatically improved.
④ Background: In the post-Covid-19 society, there is demand for thedevelopment and realization of avatars, multisensory communication
and XR technologies for various purposes such as remote medicalcare, nursing care, education and collaboration.
⑤ Requirements: Ultra-reality communication technologies such as 3D
avatars, multisensory communications, and XR that guarantee thequality of experience (QoE) equivalent to the real world are requiredfor various tasks performed remotely by humans.
T7.4 AI analysis and dialogue technology using linguistic and extralinguistic information① Technology: This technology analyzes and organizes large amounts of
information and knowledge on the Internet, and helps users to expand
and refine their world view, through various forms of multi-modal
dialogues using linguistic and extra-linguistic information, based on
the results of analyzing information and knowledge on the Internet.
② Purpose: In the midst of a serious shortage of human resources due tothe aging of society and a declining birthrate, this technology isnecessary to make the most of each individual’s abilities. In particular,
it is essential for elderly care, R&D, education, and other areas facing
serious human resource shortages.
③ Background: Although AI speakers are increasingly being used byordinary

households

and

the

accuracyofmachinereadingtechnologies is now exceeding that of humans, there exists notechnology that covers all aspects of dialogue and no methodologythat can expand and refine the user’s perception of the world throughdialogue.
④ Requirements: When individual users request analysis of a large
amount of data on the Internet, in order to avoid third parties
obtaining the results of the analysis, the data needs to be analyzed on
the users’ devices. As such, this technology requires a network
capable of transferring in real time large amounts of unanalyzed data.

65

T7.5 Simultaneous interpretation, paraphrasing, and summarization
technologies for multiple languages① Technology: This technology converts between different languages toassist communication between Japanese and foreigners with goodtime efficiency. To enable this, the context and extra-linguistic
information are also referred to, and intra-language conversion is
included.
② Purpose: Japanese and non-Japanese can live and do business innormal times without stress, and Japanese and non-Japanese can coexist without barriers even in emergencies such as disasters.
③ Background: In this field,
NICT is in competition with
GAFA

(Google,Facebook,
BATH

Apple)(Baidu,Tencent,

Amazon,andAlibaba,

Huawei),but

NICT is dominant thanks toa public-based framework
represented by translation
banks [1].
④ Requirements:

Hardwareand networks that enable
parallelexecutionofsingle-device learning and

Figure 4.15: Secure remote simultaneousinterpretation.
Source: Global Communication Plan 2025
(Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, March
31, 2020)

cloud-based learning with low latency will enable ultra-precise model
learning tailored to individual users for the first time.
[1] Global Communication Plan 2025 (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, March 31, 2020)

T7.6 Automated driving① Technology: This technology automates the movement of vehicles(mobility) in various fields such as cars and trucks used for thetransportation of people and goods, industry and agriculture, robots
that compensate for the labor shortage at medical sites, andwheelchairs that help the movement of the disabled and the elderly.
② Purpose: We will be able to realize a vibrant and bright society by66

creating a safe and secure traffic environment free from accidents,
eliminating labor shortages and declining productivity due to the aging
population and low birth rate, and encouraging the participation andindependence of the disabled and the elderly who are worried about
mobility.
③ Background: Efforts to realize autonomous driving are being made invarious fields of transportation, communication and industry.
④ Requirements: The creation of ultra-precise environmental maps ofspace, obstacle avoidance and collision prevention, remote monitoringfor emergency measures, and distributed sensor technology such as
roadside infrastructure are essential. In order to realize thesetechnologies, cooperation between vehicles and networks, andestablishment of high-capacity information communication (overseveral tens of Gbps) and real-time communication (delay of 1 ms orless) are required.
T7.7 Drones① Technology: This technology is based on an unmanned aircraft thatcan fly through the sky freely, from inside to outside of the area ofvisual observation, by an automatic control program. It is also known
as a flying smartphone and flying IoT, making it possible to network
three-dimensional spaces that have not been used before. It is also
called the “Industrial Revolution in the Sky,” but in the future thetechnology will be developed into flying cars that constitute a “Mobile
Revolution in the Sky.”② Purpose:

Dramaticallymanagement,

aerialimprovetheefficiency

photography,ofinfrastructure

logistics,

observation,

disaster/distress communication, etc. In addition, it can reduce energy
consumption and human involvement in all social activities, which isnecessary for the realization of an eco-system through energy
conservation and a new society resistant to virus infections.
③ Background: The government has led the formulation of the Roadmap
for the Industrial Revolution in the Sky, which is updated every year.
The government and the private sector jointly revise the system anddevelop technologies to realize safe unobserved flight. In the area oftechnology development, R&D projects led by the Ministry of Internal67

Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry(New

EnergyandIndustrial

Technology

Development

Organization) are being promoted. In the area of institutional reform,
revisions to the Civil Aeronautics Law and the Radio Law are being
implemented one after another. Europe, the United States, China,
South Korea, and other countries are conducting their own R&D. The
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Organization forStandardization (ISO) have also been promoting standardization ofcommunications and airframe safety technologies.
④ Requirements: Highly-reliable and low-cost wireless communications
supporting safe flight operations of drones, spectrum sharing andfrequency-expansion technologies for this, and collaboration andintegration with terrestrial, space and HAPS networks are required.

68

Table 4.8: Roadmap for ultra-reality and innovative applications

4.3 R&D Roadmap
Chapter 4 presents a separate roadmap for each of the key
technologies. Table 4.9 summarizes these roadmaps, focusing on themost representative of each field. It also shows the estimated timing of
the three scenarios shown in Chapter 3.
69

Table 4.9: R&D Roadmap

70Chapter 5: R&D Open Platform
In response to the recommendations of the Beyond 5G Promotion
Strategy Council, the Beyond 5G Promotion Strategy - Roadmap to 6G was announced in June 2020. This describes the R＆D open platform as
follows.
Among the core technologies of Beyond 5G, it is appropriate for the
relevant ministries and agencies to cooperate and intensively promoteresearch and development of strategically important key technologies
that Japan should focus on for a limited period of time. In order toeffectively promote R&D of cutting-edge key technologies, we will
collaborate with R&D platforms such as SINET and the supercomputer“Fugaku,” as well as funding programs for young researchers. NICT
will also build the Beyond 5G R&D platform and other locations, andprovide various players in Japan and overseas with advanced R&D
environments including testbeds such as radio wave environment
emulators. We will promote joint R&D utilizing these environments.
Beyond 5G/6G requires innovative R&D not only in collaboration withdiverse players from industry, academia, and government, but also in aninternationally coordinated system.
Accordingly, NICT, which specializes in R&D in the information andcommunications field, will develop new Beyond 5G/6G by sharing
research facilities and equipment, which will be needed to realize ultrahighspeed,

ultra-highcapacity,

ultra-lowlatency,ultra-massive

connectivity, low power consumption, etc., which will be the core of
Beyond 5G/6G technology. In addition, NICT will build a system topromote open R&D by combining the wisdom of industry, academia, andgovernment in organic coordination with existing R&D infrastructure(cybersecurity, data utilization, quantum networking, brain information
communication, etc.).

71

Chapter 6: Deployment Strategies
6.1 Trends in Standardization for Beyond 5G/6G
After 3G, the ITU Radio Communications Division (ITU-R) has maderecommendationson

specifications

establishedbyprivatestandardization bodies (such as 3GPP), and one of the major trends is tomake them international standards. The international allocation of
frequencies

will

be

decided

at

the

World

Radiocommunication

Conference (WRC), which is held approximately every four to five years.
The standardization of mobile communications at ITU-R has been
conducted at WP5D (IMT systems) under SG5 (terrestrial services).
In October 2020, WP5D began compiling the survey results, Future
Technology Trends, the first step in the standardization of Beyond
5G/6G, and it is scheduled to be completed in June 2022. First, it isnecessary

toincorporate

theelements

of

NICT

and

Japanesetechnologies into future technology trend surveys, and to reflect on therecommended vision, the next step in standardization, while improving
the specificity of technologies and building partnerships.
The

agreedstandardization

process

at

the

WP5D

meetings(respectively in February and October 2020) is shown in Figure 6.2. A
study of future technological trends in the advanced form of IMT-2020
is scheduled to be completed in June 2022. Concurrently, a study of thevision is scheduled to start in June 2021.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications established the
Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium in December 2020, which is planningto publish a Beyond 5G White Paper. It is also planning to make a proposal
for the 38th WP5D in June 2021.
NICT plans to incorporate its technology seeds into its Future
Technology Trends and the vision until 2023, positioning them as Beyond
5G/6G

technology,

andcontributingcommercialization.

72

tostandardization

for

early

Figure 6.1: Processes in 3G, 4G and 5G (ref. ITU-R
Recommendation M. 2083 Figure 1 - The red frame of Vision and
3G, 4G, 5G on the left side were added by NICT).

In addition to securing the necessary frequencies at the WorldRadiocommunication

Conference

in

2023

(WRC-23),

we

plan

to

collaborate with the 3GPP and private-sector forums to establish
technical requirements.

2020
WP5Dmeeting

Beyond5G/6G(IMT-2030
and Beyond)Technical
specification

2021

2022

2023

2024

#36 #37 #38 #39 #40 #41 #42#43 #44 #45 #46 #47 #48

Technical
performancerequirements

Technology trend survey

Vision recommendation

IMT-2030 Vison
Workshop…

20xx(<2026?)

・・・

Acceptanceof proposals Formulation of 6G
recommendations

RA-23/WRC-23

Figure 6.2: Agreed standardization process at the 34th WP5D.

Figure 6.3: (Removed in English version)736.2 National
Development

ProjectforBeyond5G/6G

ResearchandIn the “Beyond 5G Promotion Strategy - Roadmap to 6G -” announced
by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in June 2020,
activities up to the introduction of Beyond 5G/6G around 2030 are
described in two phases: the “Proactive Action Phase” and the“Acceleration Phase.” As part of the Proactive Action Phase, the Beyond
5G R&D Promotion Program is strongly supported by the government, in
accordance with the R&D policy published in January 28, 2021 by the
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, in order to focus on
strengthening R&D capabilities for technologies that are advanced inJapan and technologies that are indispensable for Japan to have.
Under

the

program,thefollowingthree

sub-programs

will

be

implemented in accordance with the three basic policies of “Global First,”“Creation of an Ecosystem that Generates Innovation” and “Intensive
Allocation of Resources”:- Beyond 5G Function Realization Program- Beyond 5G International Joint R&D Program- Beyond 5G Seeds Creation Program
Of these programs, the Beyond 5G Function Realization Program, which
conducts R&D on core technologies that are necessary and strategicallyimportant for the realization of Beyond 5G/6G, will call for individual R&D
themes in sequence using the following two schemes from the R&D
Themes Candidate List (1st edition) (Figure 6.4) of the Beyond 5G
Function Realization Program shown in the R&D Policy. We expect this list
to be updated in the future.
1.

Key issues with the aim of creating high-level R&D achievements bysetting specific and clear development targets (numerical targets,etc.)

2. General issues widely

called for ideas within the specific R&D

topics, leaving the development targets (numerical targets, etc.) to
the free ideas of the proposers.
In the Beyond 5G Function Realization Program, we plan to gradually
establish key technologies from around 2025 and reflect them ininternational standards for 3GPP, etc.
74Figure 6.4: R&D Policy of Beyond 5G R&D Promotion Program, January
28, 2021.
( https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/eng/presentation/pd
f/Beyond_5G_Promotion_Strategy.pdf )75

Chapter 7: Conclusion
In this White Paper, we assumed three scenarios based on the views ofsocial life around 2030 to 2035. By backcasting from the future society
described in these scenarios, we summarized Beyond 5G/6G concepts,
use cases, and essential technologies. A roadmap for R&D was alsopresented. The White Paper also discusses the open platforms anddeployment strategies required for the R&D, and outlined its overall
picture.
In order to develop, implement and utilize the necessary futuretechnologies in order to realize the depicted social life and world view, it
is necessary to take into account technological evolution not only in theinformation and communications field but also in a wide variety of fields,
and to discuss with various stakeholders in order to achieve the goals. We
will continue to discuss and revise this White Paper.

76

Acknowledgment
The NICT Open Summit 2020 was held for two days, January 20–21, 2021,
to present this White Paper. and discuss with the following experts. NICT
expresses its deep gratitude to them for their valuable advice on the R&D
direction of Beyond 5G/6G R&D that NICT should pursue.
Prof. NAKAO Akihiro (University of Tokyo)
Prof. Andreas DENGEL (Deutsches Forschungszentrum für KünstlicheIntelligenz)Prof. Matti LATVA-AHO (University of Oulu)
Dr. Onur ALTINTAS (Toyota Motor North America R&D)
Dr. WAKIKAWA Ryuji (SoftBank Corp.)
Dr. KONISHI Satoshi (KDDI Research/KDDI CORPORATION)
Prof. SAMPEI Seiichi (Osaka University)
Dr. NAKAMURA Takehiro (NTT DOCOMO)
Dr. MATSUI Yasunori (Sony Corporation)

77

Authors (in alphabetical order)
ABE Yuma, ANDO Hiroshi, ASAEDA Hitoshi, CALLAN Daniel, DOI Miwako,
EGUCHI Tomoyuki, FUJII Katsumi, FUJITA Satoshi, FUJIWARA Mikio,
FURUKAWA Hideaki, FURUSAWA Kentaro, FUSE Tetsuharu, HACHISU
Hidekazu, HAGIHARA Yuichiro, HAMADA Rira, HANADO Yuko, HARA
Motoaki, HARA Shinsuke, HARAI Hiroaki, HASHIMOTO Yasuhiro, HIROTA
Yusuke, HOSAKO Iwao, HOSOKAWA Mizuhiko, IBUKA Kazuo, ICHIKAWA
Ryuichi, IDO Tetsuya, IIDA Ryu, IMAI Koji, INOUE Daisuke, IRIMAJIRI
Yoshihisa, ISHIJIMA Hiroshi, ISHIZU Kentaro, ISOGAI Mitsuo, ITOH
Hiroshi, JOACHIMCZAK Michal, KAN Tomoshige, KANNO Atsushi, KASAMA
Takahiro, KASAMATSU Akifumi, KAWAMURA Seiji, KAWASAKI Hikaru,
KOJIMA Fumihide, KOJIMA Syoichiro, KOMADA Genki, KOTAKE Hideaki,
LIU Juan, MATSUDA Takashi, MATSUMOTO Atsushi, MATSUMURA Takeshi,
MATSUZONO Kazuhisa, MIURA Amane, MIURA Ryu, MIYAZAWA Takaya,
MIZUNO Maya, MOROHASHI Isao, MURAKAMI Homare, NAKAGAWA
Takuya, NAKAZAWA Tadateru, NARUSE Yasushi, NEZU Hiromi, NISHINAGA
Nozomu, OH Jonghoon, OKURA Takuya, OODO Masayuki, OTAKE Kiyonori,
PYO Chang-Woo, SAITO Yuki, SAKAGUCHI Jun, SASAKI Masahide, SATOH
Kohei, SAWADA Kaori, SEKINE Norihiko, SHIGA Nobuyasu, SHOJI Yozo,
SUGA Ryotaro, SUGIBAYASHI Kiyoshi, SUMITA Eiichiro, SUZUKI Takafumi,
SUZUKI Yoichi, TAKEOKA Masahiro, TAKIZAWA Kenichi, TEMMA Katsuhiro,TERANISHI Yuuichi, TERUI Toshifumi, TORISAWA Kentaro, TOYOSHIMA
Morio, TSUJI Hiroyuki, UCHIMOTO Kiyotaka, WAKE Kanako, WATANABE
Hiroki, WATANABE Issei, YAMAGUCHI Shingo, YAMAMOTO Naokatsu,
YAMAMOTO Shuntaro, YASUDA Satoshi, YOKOTA Yusuke, YOSHIDA Maki,
YOSHIDA Yuki, YOSHIMURA Naoko

78

Update History
Release 0.9: April 30, 2021
The English text (version 0.9) was translated from the Japanese text
(version 1.0) by White Paper staff using TexTra, a machine translation
system developed by NICT.
https://mt-auto-minhon-mlt.ucri.jgn-x.jp/
Release 1.0: August 31, 2021
English expressions were refined based on the English version 0.9.

Beyond 5G/6G White Paper
Published August 2021
ISBN978-4-904020-20-3
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology------------------------------4-2-1 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8795, JAPANE-mail nict-idi-wp@ml.nict.go.jp
URL

https://www2.nict.go.jp/idi/

Unauthorized copying and replication of the contents of this paper are
prohibited.
------------------------------79

ISBN978-4-904020-20-3