R&D/Innovation
OKI Proposes Infrastructure DX Through DFOS and IOWN Integration at ITU-T
Approach to resolving global social issues wins support from leading communications organizations worldwide
TOKYO, December 24, 2025 -- OKI (TOKYO: 6703) participated in the CxO Roundtable (*1), hosted by the Director of the International Telecommunication Union's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau in Munich, Germany on November 3, 2025. At the roundtable, OKI proposed that by integrating distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) (*2) with advanced networks such as IOWN® (*3), Infrastructure DX can be expected. This includes improving the efficiency of wide-area social infrastructure maintenance and management, as well as advancing global disaster countermeasures. OKI also emphasized the importance of promoting international standardization to accelerate real-world deployment. This proposal was presented by Yoichi Kato, Director, Senior Vice President, and Chief Technology Officer, and welcomed by executives of major communications organizations from the participating countries.
Various trends in recent years, including aging infrastructures, advancing urbanization, increasingly severe natural disasters, and shrinking labor populations, have led to the recognition of social infrastructure maintenance management and disaster preparedness as major global challenges. This in turn has highlighted the importance of efficient social infrastructure management using ICT and other new sensing technologies along with international collaboration and standardization.
In response to these social issues, OKI proposed an efficient management approach that combines its long-standing communication technologies with DFOS. OKI introduced an advanced framework that enables the integrated monitoring of social infrastructure facilities, labor savings, cost reductions, and early predictive disaster detection by utilizing existing optical fiber networks and IOWN. The presentation also touched on applications in the marine, manufacturing, and mobility sectors, as well as opportunities for global collaboration and market expansion.
OKI's proposal on the effectiveness of DFOS and the promotion of international standardization for its integration with communication networks was incorporated in the official communiqué (*4) issued at the Roundtable meeting, and gained support of the participating organizations from different countries.
"ITU has just approved a new global standard providing the optical interface requirements for distributed fibre-optic sensing and we are glad to enjoy OKI's support," said Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. "ITU standard G.681 aims to drive the economies of scale needed for widespread sensing capabilities, helping operators better protect their optical networks and potentially gain new revenues with sensing-as-a-service innovations."
OKI will continue contributing to resolving global social issues through technological research and development, social implementation, and international standardization based on the integration of DFOS and IOWN, helping to advance and sustain social infrastructure, support smart cities, and strengthen disaster countermeasures and security.
Terminology
*1: CxO Roundtable
A meeting organized by the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau attended by executives from companies and organizations involved in telecommunications standardization within ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and around the world. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the UN agency for digital technologies. Its global membership includes 194 Member States and over 1000 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.
*2: DFOS (Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing)
Refers to distributed fiber optic sensing technology, which uses the optical fiber itself as a sensor to measure strain, temperature, vibration, and other parameters of a target object together with positional information.
*3: IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network)
Next-generation communications and information-processing platform concept led by NTT, aimed at realizing ultra-high-speed, large-capacity, low-latency, and energy-efficient communications by linking networks, data processing, and end devices through optical connections.
*4: CxO Roundtable, 3 November 2025, Munich, Germany, Communiqué
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/tsbdir/cto/Documents/Communique_ITU_CxO_2025_Final.pdf
Related link
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OKI Establishes OKI Berlin Lab R&D Center in Berlin, Germany
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OKI Develops Ultracompact Photonic Integrated Circuit Chip Using Silicon Photonics Technology to Realize Various Optical Sensors
About Oki Electric Industry (OKI)
Founded in 1881, OKI is Japan's leading information and telecommunication manufacturer. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, OKI provides top-quality products, technologies, and solutions to customers through its Public Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, Component Products, and Electronics Manufacturing Services businesses. Its various business divisions function synergistically to bring to market exciting new products and technologies that meet a wide range of customer needs in various sectors. Visit OKI's global website at https://www.oki.com/global/.
- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is referred to as "OKI" in this document.
- IOWN is a registered trademark of NTT,inc.
- The names of the companies and products mentioned in this document are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and organizations.
* Information in the press releases is current on the date of the press announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.
