NTT Corporation and NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced that they have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness and feasibility of In-Network Computing (INC),1 an architecture that integrates and coordinates computing resources for services such as AI and mobile networks to enable end-to-end quality control, ensuring low latency and bandwidth usage. The demonstration was based on the “Inclusive Core”2 concept for the 6G/IOWN era originally announced by NTT Corporation in a press releaseOpen other window issued in October 2023.
During this demonstration, the GSMA-defined Open Gateway3 / CAMARA API4 was utilized to develop and implement technologies for controlling network routing based on mobile network conditions. Additionally, new technologies were developed and implemented that enable connection and coordinated control between user communication devices and servers positioned near the user. These will allow on-demand computing services to be provided according to user needs. As a result, the demonstration confirmed that quality requirements spanning both network and computing domains can be rapidly achieved through API control based on user requests. Application of the INC architecture in real-time video data transmission and AI analysis showed that it could achieve accuracy of 90%, which is the AI model’s performance limit.
This proof of concept was conducted in collaboration with Nokia Corporation. The results will be showcased at Nokia’s booth during Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2025Open other window, being held from March 3 to 6, 2025, where it will be presented as an example of next-generation network architecture.
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Discussions on international standardization for 6G networks are underway among various countries and organizations. 3GPP, a standardization body in which leading global telecom operators, network vendors and research institutions are participating, plans to commence the development of technical specifications such as architecture and protocols this year. Among the anticipated 6G use cases are new services such as immersive XR, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and sensing. To deliver these services without compromising performance, 6G-era networks will need to accelerate not only conventional communication processes but also the data processing of applications.
In response to these challenges, and in the context of international standardization discussions, NTT and DOCOMO, along with many other companies, are considering INC as a core network technology to support 6G-era services. Another key feature of INC is its capability to facilitate the use of 6G services even on simplified devices, by supporting computational processing within the network.
SOURCE: GroupNTT
