We, NTT Group, have developed the ‘IOWN Space Computing Network’ concept to create innovative business opportunities in the expanding space industry services. In this presentation, we will introduce the future business vision, various use cases, technical challenges, and key technologies that we are targeting under this concept. First, we will describe the space RAN technology, which aims to enable 6G mobile networks anywhere on Earth. We describe the traffic-route management technology on GEO satellites, LEO satellite constellations, and HAPS (High-Altitude Platform Stations) integrated NTN network, which selects the optimal airborne network routes according to the services required by various user terminals. Second, we will describe the ultra-wide area satellite sensing platform technology, which can collect and analyze a large amount of sensor data acquired from inexpensive sensor terminals that use consumer parts anywhere on the ground using LEO satellites. It consists of two technologies. LEO Satellite MIMO technology, which improves the frequency utilization efficiency and transmission capacity of radio signals transmitted from LEO satellites to ground base stations, and Satellite Sensing technology, which allows the accommodation of various terrestrial LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) terminals and devices while sharing the same wireless frequencies. The on-orbit demonstration of a satellite sensing platform using low earth orbit satellite MIMO technology will also be described.

Kiyohiko Itokawa is a Senior Research Engineer at NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories. He received a B.E. and M.E. in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Tsukuba, JAPAN. He joined NTT in 2000 and has been involved in the research and development of various wireless access systems, such as 802.11a wireless LAN systems, 26-GHz-band subscriber fixed wireless access systems, and mobile wireless link systems for counter-disaster use. He is also involved in the development of portable satellite unit stations for counter-disaster use. His current research interests include the development of satellite MIMO and IoT systems using LEO satellites.