TOKYO, JAPAN—NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), the ICT solutions and international communications business within the NTT (NYSE: NTT) Group, announced today that it launched the IoT Testbed, a collaborative technical-verification demonstration experiment using IoT products and services in alliance with hardware vendors, software vendors and system integrators that offer IoT technologies and products, on February 18.

The experiment will offer use of NTT Com's Enterprise Cloud service and Arcstar Universal One global VPN to alliance companies on a free-of-charge basis for a limited time. The companies are expected to combine these services with their own IoT technologies, products and services to test feasibility.

NTT Com will evaluate and verify the interconnection, operational stability, process performance, data analysis accuracy and operability of the IoT services. Outcomes will be shared among companies and organizations in related industries. NTT Com will continue to invite a broad range of other global companies and organizations to participate in the demonstration experiment to advance the development of extra-reliable and safe IoT services.

IoT Testbed demonstration experiment include the following:

• LAN and WAN connectivity using protocol-converting gateway
  Measure data speed and data-processing performance by converting vendor-specific industrial Ethernet protocols, such as the CC-Link IE, PROFINET and EtherNet/IP, to standardized protocols such as OPC UA, and then using these protocols for data transmissions to NTT Com's cloud via optical-fiber and mobile circuits.
  Participants: NTT Communications and TAKEBISHI CORPORATION
• Transmission and real-time processing performance test from various devices
  Operate network-control technology (enables reliable receipt of huge data from multiple vendors' devices and then processing and storage of the data in real time), middleware and database systems in NTT Com's cloud and network, and then verify the stability and practicability of data-processing performance and operation.
  Participants: NTT Communications, IBM Japan and Oracle Corporation Japan
• Implement edge computing technology
  Implement data processing and storage to the edge side (devices), including telecommunication gateway and cloud, and verify processing performance and operation stability, aiming at realizing speedy, real-time processing of huge IoT data from diverse sensors and cameras.
  Participants: Innotech Corporation, Intel K.K., NTT Com, Kanto L-Engineering Co., Ltd. (Kepware's Preferred Distributor in Japan.), Siemens K.K., Cisco Systems G.K. and Net one Systems Co., Ltd.
• Verification of development method leveraging API
  Verify feasibility and convenience of developing IoT services and applications by combining APIs of devices, networks, cloud, applications and security using GUI, and building a development environment on NTT Com's cloud for fast, easy development with IoT functions added in. Evaluate convenience by actually developing a proof of concept (PoC).
  Participating companies: Uhuru Corporation and NTT Communications

Leveraging the IoT will require the efficient collection and processing of huge data worldwide. This will necessitate highly advanced technologies that enable telecom equipment to send and receive data; networks and cloud platform to transfer data; databases to store data; and applications to process data. The development and practicalization of reliable security technologies for strong authentication and encryption, cyber security and failure prediction will be needed to avoid the misuse, runaway or disclosure of data from cameras, robots, cars and control systems connected to networks. Furthermore, to combat terrorism and crime, manage energy and prepare for major disasters, it is becoming increasingly important to actively leverage technologies for IoT, data processing and artificial intelligence in fields such as law and order, environmental conservation and national security.

NTT Com will continue to invite additional enterprises, industrial institutions and research institutes to participate in the IoT Testbed to facilitate development, practicalization, commercialization and implementation by evaluating technologies and products that contribute to IoT service evolution. NTT Com also will connect the IoT Testbed to its overseas bases via VPN sometime after April. Meanwhile, the company will participate in IoT Acceleration Lab and Smart IoT Acceleration Forum of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to test and verify technologies and create new businesses that leverage the IoT. In addition, NTT Com is jointly developing and testing IoT technologies in cooperation with various institutions and communities, including Virtual Engineering Community (VEC), Industrial Value Chain Initiative (IVI), Connected Consumer Device Security Council (CCDS), IoT Promotion Committee of Internet Association Japan (IAjapan), IoT Research Committee at Institute of Industrial Science,The University of Tokyo and Nagoya Institute of Technology. Outcomes of initiatives leveraging the IoT Testbed will be broadly shared with enterprises and institutions worldwide to accelerate the development of new solutions and services that contribute to more sustainable, vigorous and affluent societies.

Participating companies are as of February 16, 2016