February 18th, 2022
2 min read
NTT’s commitment to technological innovation is at the heart of its research and development investments. At the core is our vision of contributing to society through business operations and creating positive change across social, economic, environmental and cultural areas of life.
We believe in the responsible development of technology, focusing on innovations that respect human values and promote sustainability for people, the planet and prosperity. NTT R&D looks to solve challenges related to security, disaster prevention, sustainable development, and so much more.
Do research by drawing from the fountain of knowledge and provide specific benefits to society through its practical use.
NTT R&D turning points
The greatest innovations come from reimagining the future, doing things differently and achieving what hasn’t been done before. It’s not enough for us to continue with conventional approaches.
We must create new ways of doing things to change the future for good, looking beyond today’s trends and paying attention to new technologies that can add value for the future.
True innovation turns ideas into something tangible that transforms
Creativity sparks when diverse backgrounds, fields and disciplines come together. Our approach marries new technologies with crossover thinking outside the technology industry. Science, ethics and even philosophical thinking form NTT research and development policy as we look to consider the broader impact and uses to understand all implications. Because how we use, access and do with technology matters.
Pursuing new value creation through technology means we innovate in ways we never imagined. It is important to delve deeper into technology, join forces, and empower our efforts by co-innovating with other like-minded peers, partners, organizations, universities, institutions, government departments, and think tanks.
IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) is a base technology that bridges various research areas, removing technological barriers and enabling further development. NTT has been researching the technologies that form the basis of IOWN for many years. We have been working on optical technology since the 1960s. We’re continuously finding ways to improve the technical foundation on top of new and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.
As the world changes, the R&D of technology will need to adapt to more diverse social needs. We have some of the brightest minds in the world working with a sense of resolution and responsibility to conduct research to provide the best value to humankind for a smarter, more sustainable society.
NTT R&D focuses on diversity and continuity of its research themes working with NTT operating companies and partners in various industries to address social issues. Our efforts are for the good of the people, the community and the future.
NTT’s story of innovation
1948
Established the Electrical Communication Laboratory under the Ministry of Communications in Japan.
1952
NTT public corporation forms and takes over the telecommunications business of the Ministry of Communications in Japan.
1966
Start of basic research into optical communication.
1970
NTT shows the future by exhibiting a video-telephone and wireless telephone.
1975
Developed line spectral pairs (LSP) technology for high-compression speech encoding.
1977
Developed optical fiber-based material production technology for mass production of high-quality optical fiber.
1980
International standardization of G3 facsimile.
1985
NTT Corporation forms as a result of privatization.
1986
Development of practical SC connector.
1991
Development of practical MPO connector.
1994
Announced ‘Basic Concepts of Multimedia’ for the Open Computer Network (OCN).
1999
The world’s first cell phone IP connection service, leading to the creation of the Emoji.
2001
‘Fiber to the Home’ is the world’s first fiber-optic communication system.
2005
Developed a free-bending optical fiber cord.
2013
NTT Innovation Institute established research hub in North America.
2019
Developed the world’s first most energy-efficient optical transistor.
2020
OWN Integrated Innovation Center established.
Key numbers
-
5,000
research and development team members
-
10 years
of recognition for Derwent Top 100 Global Innovator from Clarivate Analytics
-
18,000+
patents
-
1,900
papers and presentations at academic conferences