NTT and Nokia Showcase 6G Innovations At MWC 2025

At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, NTT Corporation (NTT), NTT DOCOMO, and Nokia jointly demonstrated advanced 6G-enabling technologies at the Nokia booth. The focus was on NTT’s Inclusive Core Architecture and the In-network Service Acceleration Platform (ISAP), which aim to enhance data processing efficiency for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and immersive reality.

Enhancing AI with In-Network Computing

A key highlight of the demonstration was the application of ISAP to AI analysis during real-time video data transfer. Under conventional architectures, AI analysis achieved a 57% accuracy rate. However, with ISAP integrated into the Inclusive Core Architecture, this accuracy improved significantly to 90%. This improvement underscores the potential of in-network computing (INC) to optimize AI performance by transferring some application-layer processing to the network layer. By doing so, ISAP minimizes data exchange delays between terminals and servers, enhancing overall efficiency and accuracy.

ISAP is a crucial component of NTT’s Inclusive Core Architecture, designed to fuse computing and networking capabilities required for the 6G and IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) era. By accelerating in-network information processing, ISAP facilitates advanced AI-integrated communication services, even with limited terminal resources.

Addressing the Challenges in Telecommunications

The telecommunications industry is under increasing pressure to upgrade networks to handle the growing demands of AI, IoT, robotics, and automation. Existing network infrastructures risk falling behind due to the rising need for ultra-high capacity, ultra-low latency, and low power consumption capabilities. In response, NTT and Nokia’s collaborative efforts focus on developing next-generation networking solutions to meet these demands.

The IOWN Vision: A Glimpse into the Future

NTT’s IOWN initiative, supported by major industry players like Sony, Intel, Nokia, Google, Nvidia, and Microsoft, envisions a transformative shift to optical-photonic-based network architecture by 2030. IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) is an initiative by NTT aiming to revolutionize network infrastructure using optical-photonics technology. Its goals include reducing power consumption by 100x, increasing transmission capacity by 125x, and lowering latency by 200x. Key components are the All-Photonics Network, Digital Twin Computing, and Cognitive Foundation, which together support ultra-high capacity, low-latency, and intelligent resource management for applications like 6G, AI, IoT, and smart cities.

The Inclusive Core Architecture is a vital part of the IOWN vision, integrating three core components: the All-Photonics Network, Digital Twin Computing, and the Cognitive Foundation. This architecture aims to provide end-to-end network services that support a wide range of use cases, from AI-driven applications to Cyber-Physical Systems that seamlessly interact between digital and physical realms.

In-Network Computing: A Foundation for 6G

In-network computing (INC) is central to NTT’s 6G strategy. By shifting application processing functions to the network’s data transfer functions, INC reduces both latency and power consumption. This approach is crucial for supporting the high data rates and low latency required by 6G use cases, including AI, ML, and advanced sensing technologies.

ISAP, as an INC-enabling technology, facilitates seamless information processing between terminals and cloud services. This capability ensures that advanced services can be delivered irrespective of terminal specifications or access environments. By creating a cascading computing environment within the network, ISAP synchronizes data processing to match the service usage environment effectively.

Standardization and Collaboration Efforts

NTT and DOCOMO plan to continue their research on INC to advance computing services linked to mobile networks in the 6G era. In collaboration with Nokia, they aim to expand partnerships with telecommunication carriers, equipment manufacturers, cloud providers, and service providers. The goal is to contribute to the international standardization of 6G architecture under the 3GPP, with discussions set to begin in 2025.

The standardization process is essential for ensuring that INC and ISAP can be integrated into future mobile networks globally. By promoting a unified standard, NTT, DOCOMO, and Nokia seek to accelerate the deployment of 6G technologies and ensure compatibility across various platforms and devices.

The Road Ahead for 6G and IOWN

The successful demonstration at MWC 2025 highlights the feasibility of the Inclusive Core Architecture and ISAP in addressing the challenges posed by next-generation data processing needs. As the telecommunications industry moves closer to the 6G era, the integration of INC and optical-photonic technologies will be crucial.

NTT’s IOWN initiative, with its ambitious goals for power efficiency, transmission capacity, and latency reduction, represents a significant step forward in network evolution. If successful, this approach could redefine how data is processed, transmitted, and consumed, paving the way for new applications in AI, automation, and IoT.

For more information about NTT R&D related to next-generation networking infrastructure, refer to the whitepaper, “Inclusive Core: Integrative and Cooperative Network Architecture for the 6G/IOWN Era” and the webpage, “IOWN: the new technology that leads to a better future.”

Filed in Computers >Photo-Video. Read more about 6g, Docomo, MWC, MWC 2025, Network, Nokia, Ntt and Ntt Docomo.