KDDI Starts Providing Hybrid IoT Platform "Global IoT Access" with SORACOM - SORACOM Discovery 2021 Report 5

Soracom's annual conference "SORACOM Discovery 2021" was held online for three days from June 22nd to 24th. On the 24th, Mr. Kazuhiro Noguchi, General Manager of 5G/IoT Service Planning Department, Service Planning and Development Headquarters, KDDI Corporation, took the stage to discuss the details of the hybrid IoT platform "Global IoT Access" with Soracom released on the same day, and the 5G promoted by KDDI. explained the solution. This paper introduces the contents.

Contents

KDDI's IoT business continues to expand globally

KDDI has been promoting the IoT business since 2001, about 20 years ago. The number of IoT corporate contract lines has expanded rapidly since around 2015, when IoT began to become a hot topic, and exceeded 18 million lines in March 2021. KDDI is a telecommunications infrastructure company. However, as the base of the IoT business expands, customer needs for total support, including elements other than communication, are increasing. While cooperating with partner companies such as SORACOM, it has expanded as an IoT platformer that includes devices, cloud, data analysis and AI.

KDDI's IoT business is now expanding globally. The starting point for this was the “global communication platform” for connected cars jointly announced with Toyota in 2019. It is an IoT platform that automatically connects and switches from the ICT terminal installed in the car to a telecommunications carrier selected for each country and region, and monitors the communication status in an integrated manner.

The concept of expanding this model from the automobile industry to all other industries is KDDI's "World IoT Platform". A business platform that integrates various assets of partner companies and supports the global expansion of customers. In terms of data analysis, they have already announced collaborations with Hitachi and Toshiba. And the joint service "Global IoT Access" with Soracom, which will be explained later, is also included in this framework.

KDDI's strengths in global IoT deployment are mainly divided into two. "Global standard" and "localization". In short, a global standard means comprehensively providing things and things necessary for implementing IoT overseas. It also supports legal regulations and certification acquisition. Also, localization means individual correspondence and support for each locality. KDDI has more than 100 bases around the world, and about 5,900 staff members.

"Global IoT Access", released on June 24th, will further expand these strengths on a global scale in collaboration with SORACOM.

New service "Global IoT Access"

"Global IoT Access" is a service that combines KDDI's collaboration platform with overseas carriers and SORACOM's IoT platform technology.

First of all, as KDDI, we mainly provide two values. The first is the ability to provide low-cost IoT communication services through joint procurement with au roaming lines (global flat-rate data) (monthly, communication charges are pay-as-you-go for each region). Since it can be used from a single line (1 SIM) at a low price, it will be a great advantage for companies that want to start IoT from a small start. In addition to roaming, SORACOM's technology also makes it possible to develop individual communication services by incorporating local carrier profiles.

Next is wide coverage. KDDI aims to expand its roaming area to more than 200 countries and regions. “We are steadily developing areas, prioritizing Japan’s top exporting countries and countries and regions with high needs. We have already completed agreements with 130 businesses in more than 100 countries. March 2022 We plan to offer it in more than 200 countries and regions by March,” explains Noguchi.

For China, where laws and regulations are strict, KDDI will resell the CTG and CMI lines of Chinese Hong Kong carriers, and KDDI's Beijing Network Operation Center will handle the operation and maintenance in an integrated manner. .

Now, the value provided by SORACOM is as follows. First, with Soracom's technology, it is possible to centrally manage KDDI and Soracom's various communication services with a single console. With the same UI as SORACOM's IoT platform, it is possible to check the status of SIMs in various places and add, change, or abolish communication lines. Of course, it is also possible to use Soracom's abundant services from there. You can also set up "KDDI WVS Platform GW Air Connect," which allows you to securely connect to KDDI's closed network (WVS).

In addition, SORACOM has set up "local breakout points (LBO)", which are network connection points with partner carriers, in three locations around the world: Japan, Germany, and the United States. Risk can be reduced. Mr. Noguchi said, "KDDI and SORACOM, we would like to combine the strengths of each other to provide value to our customers."

In addition, as a service to be provided in the future, "Global IoT Router" is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2021. It is a highly versatile IoT router that supports the bands of each country and has overseas certification. In the fall of 2021, a device management service that provides device kitting and maintenance will also be provided.

KDDI's 5G Ideas and Solutions

Mr. Noguchi describes the relationship between 5G and IoT as follows. “4G was the technology of the smartphone era. Mobiles have permeated our daily lives, allowing us to conveniently carry out video, music, shopping, communication, and more with just one smartphone. It has become a global standard.In other words, it can be said that it is the infrastructure that will be needed when IoT accelerates and society as a whole becomes connected.”

In addition, 5G is attracting attention for wireless technologies such as high speed and large capacity, but Mr. Noguchi says that it is not the only one. A feature of 5G that Mr. Noguchi emphasizes is MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing). MEC is a system that improves real-time communication and responsiveness by distributing (cloud) servers in locations close to terminals. Mr. Noguchi emphasizes that 5G will bring the cloud closer to the edge.

More specifically, in the case of LTE, even if a server is installed near the base station, the connecting mobile terminal will connect to the original server, resulting in a large delay. On the other hand, 5G has standardized technology for controlling access to servers close to base stations, so it can be returned in a short distance.

This advantage has been clearly realized by the provision of "AWS Wavelength" through the collaboration between KDDI and AWS (from December 2020). AWS Wavelength is an edge infrastructure service that enables low-latency connections from mobile devices to applications by placing AWS services at the edge of 5G networks.

Therefore, AWS and KDDI collaborated to build a system that can process data by placing AWS computing and storage services in the au 5G network. In other words, KDDI will operate it, but the important point is that it can be used with the same usability as AWS. Businesses that have traditionally built IoT environments on AWS can deploy applications and services using the same familiar APIs, tools, and functions.

What is the status of 5G needs? As of May 2021, 40% of inquiries to KDDI are from the manufacturing/automotive field. AGV and robot control, image analysis, smart factory, etc. The broadcast/media industry is the next largest, accounting for 15% of the total.

One of the 5G use cases that KDDI is focusing on is XR. The device that plays a central role in this is the smart glasses "NrealLight" that can work with 5G smartphones. Weighing in at 106 grams, it's extremely light. "At 106 grams, it can be used like sunglasses. Initially, it was developed for personal use, but in fact, inquiries and purchases from corporations for business use are increasing." Noguchi said.

In addition, by combining this NrealLight with the same company's remote work support system "VistaFinder Mx", it is possible to perform hands-free mutual remote work support. In other words, even unskilled workers can work reliably by listening to instructions from a remote location and referring to high-definition AR images projected behind the smart glasses. . “VistaFinder Mx has already been installed by more than 100 companies.In the future, it is expected that the range of usage will expand by transmitting 4K video in the 5G environment,” says Mr. Noguchi.

In addition, the fusion of 5G and drone and camera technology is also expected. In 2019, KDDI and SECOM conducted a demonstration experiment of security around the stadium at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashi-Osaka City, making full use of 5G, drones, cameras, robots, AI, etc. This initiative won the "Mobile Technology Award" at the "MCPC award 2020" held by the Mobile Computing Promotion Consortium (MCPC), and was also selected for the "Grand Prix" and "Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award".

In a nutshell, it is a demonstration experiment in which video data collected from drones and robots is transferred by 5G, and if a problem is detected by AI analysis, security guards rush to the scene. The point is that image analysis using AI will be further utilized due to the advantage of 5G, which is the ability to transfer high-definition video.

Also, the "KDDI Smart Drone" service plays an important role here. By installing an LTE module in the drone itself, we provide a package that enables remote autonomous flight, including maintenance services. The user can input the operation route in advance instead of operating it locally like a radio control. In addition to remotely monitoring the flight status, the administrator can also perform pause and emergency landing operations.

Finally, Mr. Noguchi emphasized that 5G is just an infrastructure and a means of customers' businesses. At that time, he introduced the "KDDI 5G Business Co-Creation Alliance" as an important business co-creation framework. This is a mechanism to create business by utilizing 5G together with partner companies, transcending positions and industries. Local 5G operators are also participating in this alliance, and Mr. Noguchi said, "We will work on business co-creation based on the idea that public 5G and local 5G will coexist."

Technology and science writer. He holds a master's degree (applied chemistry). After working for an oil manufacturer, he has been active as a writer since 2017. He also contributes to scientific journals.