In this interview, Dr. Hosako shares his insights on global 6G competition, the disruptive technologies that will make the difference, critical technical challenges, Japanese R&D strategies, and the first industrial sectors to benefit from these advanced networks. From integrating artificial intelligence into the network to terahertz band propagation, we explore how Japan is leading the way in innovation and paving the way for a hyperconnected world.
• Question 1 – Global 6G Competition Q: "Dr. Hosako, considering Europe's research and development trajectory in 5G, what strengths and limitations do you see in its ability to compete in the 6G race against Japan, South Korea, and the United States?"
A: One of Europe's greatest strengths is its collaborative research and regulatory ecosystem. The European Union has articulated strategic visions for 6G that prioritize security, resilience, spectrum governance, and data protection, as well as fostering international cooperation and interoperability on global standards.
However, from a purely technological research perspective, Europe faces some structural limitations compared to Japan, South Korea, and the United States. First, industrial coordination and the concentration of investment in disruptive technologies are still more fragmented in Europe. This could affect the transition from research to technological development and large-scale testing, for example, in emerging areas such as terahertz transmission, photonic architectures, or the integration of native AI into networks—fields in which Japan is already demonstrating significant and mature progress through projects led by NICT and other collaborative organizations.
• Question 2 – Japanese strategy and differentiators "Japan has been very active in 6G R&D initiatives. From your experience in NICT, what specific measures—in terms of research, industrial collaboration, or public policies—do you believe put Japan in a position of advantage?"
A: In terms of research, Japan has prioritized technologies where it already possesses strong capabilities. In this case, NICT, as the country's research and technology agency, has structured programs that aim to advance prototypes. For example, through the "Innovative ICT Fund Projects for Beyond 5G/6G," NICT finances projects that seek to establish technologies for the common infrastructure of 6G, such as advanced photonic networks, non-terrestrial networks, and ultra-secure integrated networks.
Regarding industrial collaboration, one of the most concrete factors placing Japan at an advantage is the way in which partnerships are structured between the NICT, the government, and major companies in the sector. Through the Beyond 5G/6G strategic funds, the NICT has fostered consortia that bring together multiple operators and suppliers (such as NTT, KDDI, Fujitsu, NEC, and Rakuten Mobile) to develop interoperable technologies, including technologies based on federated optical networks that enable cooperation between different providers and ensure joint quality of service. In terms of public policy, the Japanese 6G strategy is clearly aligned with the vision of transforming the new networks into social infrastructure.
The Beyond 5G/6G Fund Project, managed by NICT, is designed to advance social implementation and international expansion. Furthermore, Japan has integrated these efforts into a national vision that prioritizes advanced connectivity as a pillar of competitiveness and resilience, with active participation in international standardization and collaboration among government, industry, and academia.
• Question 3 – Disruptive Technologies “Among the technologies envisioned for 6G — such as THz communications, massive extreme MIMO, network-integrated artificial intelligence, or holographic communications — which do you consider most mature or with the greatest potential for implementation in the short term?”
What an interesting question! First of all, embedded artificial intelligence (native AI) is already a reality. At NICT, we use it as the engine that manages the network in real time, optimizing spectrum and reducing connection errors. Secondly, and undoubtedly, extreme massive MIMO and massive connectivity are also very advanced.
We recently demonstrated the ability to simultaneously connect many devices, from drones to robots and XR systems, something current 5G cannot support. This will enable, for example, fully automated, wireless factories. On the other hand, terahertz (THz) communications are still in the testing phase, although stable, ultra-high-speed transmissions have already been achieved. However, their limited range means their initial use will be restricted to specific areas, such as stadiums or backhaul links, before reaching the average consumer's smartphone.
• Question 4 – Critical technical challenges "Before 6G reaches the market, what technical barriers pose the biggest challenges to commercial viability, and how are you addressing them in your labs? For example, regarding propagation in THz bands, energy efficiency, or ultra-low latencies."
Before 6G reaches the market, the biggest technical challenges are related to propagation in THz bands, energy efficiency, and ultra-low latency. First, terahertz bands are extremely fragile, as any obstacle can block the signal. At NICT, we are using Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), which act like mirrors capable of redirecting waves in real time, achieving stable coverage and speeds of up to 100 Gbps indoors.
On the other hand, energy consumption is a critical challenge; 6G will connect ten times more devices than 5G. To address this, we are developing the All-Photonic Network (APN), reducing energy consumption by a factor of 100 and ensuring the network is sustainable and economically viable. Finally, latency in massive environments is another challenge, especially in factories, stadiums, or drone swarms. At NICT, we have combined native AI and hybrid quantum computing to manage thousands of devices simultaneously with latencies of less than 1 ms, ensuring reliable performance for critical real-time applications.
• Question 5 – Regulation and Standardization “Global harmonization of spectrum and standards is key to the adoption of 6G. From your perspective, what regulatory or standardization obstacles could delay its mass deployment and how could they be overcome?”
One of the main obstacles is that different countries allocate frequency bands differently and progress at different paces in regulation, leading to fragmentation and delays in interoperability. To overcome this, it is essential to promote international coordination through joint standardization bodies or forums, as well as to encourage public-private partnerships that work on open standards from the development phase.
Question 6 – Integration and industrial use cases “Finally, looking towards real-world applications, which industrial sectors or services might be the first to benefit from 6G, and how would network requirements change compared to 5G?”
The first sectors to benefit from 6G will be those where accuracy, capacity, and complete coverage are critical. In healthcare and elder care, tactile telepresence could become a reality thanks to massive bandwidth that simultaneously supports 8K video, spatial audio, and haptic sensor data—something 5G cannot offer today.
In mobility and logistics, 6G would provide ubiquitous coverage over land, sea, and air, thanks to the integration of satellites and high-altitude platforms, moving from cellular coverage to continuous three-dimensional connectivity. Finally, in smart cities and disaster management, 6G will enable real-time urban digital twins, increasing connection density from 1 to 10 million devices per km².
