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March 23, 2026
NTT, Inc.
KYOCERA Communication Systems Co., Ltd.
NTT and KCCS Demonstrate First-of-its-Kind Eco-Central Computing for Logistics Warehouses
— Centralizing warehouse AI and GPU processing to a 100% renewable energy-powered data center using the IOWN APN to enable both logistics digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX) —
News Highlights:
- Demonstrated "Eco-Central Computing," which leverages the IOWN APN to centralize AI and GPU processing for warehouses in a Zero Emission Data Center powered by 100% renewable energy.
- Verified the feasibility of applying remote AI processing to warehouse operations, including safety monitoring, workflow visualization, and robot control, through remote AI analysis of camera footage.
- Presented an implementation model that reduces capital investment and maintenance and operation burdens on warehouse facilities while enabling both logistics DX and GX.
TOKYO — March 23, 2026 — NTT, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akira Shimada; hereinafter "NTT") and KYOCERA Communication Systems Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fushimi-ku, Kyoto; President and Representative Director: Tatsuya Gonokuchi; hereinafter "KCCS") have completed a technical verification toward enabling "warehouse DX" by directly connecting a warehouse in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture with the "Zero Emission Data Center Ishikari (hereinafter 'ZED Ishikari*1')," operated entirely on 100% renewable energy at all times in Ishikari, Hokkaido.
This initiative marks the first case in Japan*2 of applying the IOWN APN (All-Photonics Network)*3 in the logistics industry to connect warehouses with a data center powered entirely by renewable energy.
Going forward, the two companies aim to accelerate the commercial deployment of sustainable warehouse DX that addresses challenges in the logistics industry, leveraging the foundation established through this demonstration.
Background
The logistics industry is facing pressing challenges, including a severe labor shortage, rising costs, and the need to achieve decarbonization. Across the sector, DX initiatives aimed at reducing labor requirements and advancing warehouse operations are underway. However, these efforts remain limited to partial automation of individual tasks, leaving challenges in achieving end-to-end optimization across entire warehouse operations and in establishing sustainable frameworks for GX, including energy consumption management.
In addition, as warehouse automation and advanced image analysis continue to evolve, the growing reliance on GPUs for AI processing has led to increased power consumption, creating a new challenge for the industry.
In this initiative, assuming the automation of inbound and outbound operations in warehouses, a configuration of Eco-Central Computing was evaluated, in which AI processing required for robot control and image analysis is centralized at the remotely located ZED Ishikari via the low-latency IOWN APN. As a result, the initiative confirmed the potential to enable more efficient use of GPU resources and contribute to reductions in power consumption and CO₂ emissions.
Figure 1. Overview of eco-central computing in warehouses
Technical Verification Results
- Construction of a remote AI processing platform using APN and realization of renewable energy utilization
A direct connection was established between a warehouse in Nagareyama, Chiba and ZED Ishikari via the IOWN APN, enabling a system in which video data captured in the warehouse is processed by AI at a remote data center. This configuration allows AI processing to be executed using 100% renewable energy. - Human flow analysis using camera footage
AI analysis of video feeds from multiple cameras in the warehouse was conducted remotely, verifying that real-time monitoring is possible, including visualization of worker movement paths and anomaly detection. - Robot control and path prediction from remote GPU servers
Assuming application to inbound and outbound operations, a communication environment was designed to enable control of an arm robot from a remote GPU server. The results confirmed that remote robot control can be achieved while minimizing the impact of network latency.
In addition, by combining human flow analysis based on camera footage with future position estimation technology developed by NTT DOCOMO SOLUTIONS, Inc., it was confirmed that humans and robots can perform collaborative operations while avoiding collisions. For collision avoidance, it was verified that the entire process from collision prediction using future position estimation to the transmission of avoidance control commands to the remote robot can be executed in less than one second.
Expected Benefits of Technology Application
- Reduction of environmental impact
Centralizing AI processing at ZED Ishikari can reduce power consumption at warehouse sites and promote decarbonization. - Improved operational efficiency and cost reduction
In addition to reducing costs through automation and operational efficiency, the configuration minimizes IT resources deployed at warehouse sites, thereby reducing capital investment and system maintenance costs. It also reduces reliance on specialized IT personnel, helping to address labor shortages. - Safe working environment for human-robot collaboration
Low-latency communication at the millisecond level enabled by the IOWN APN allows remote robot control while enabling humans and robots to collaborate within the same area to improve operational efficiency. Furthermore, it achieves both safety and efficient space utilization without requiring dedicated zones.
Roles and Responsibilities
- NTT
Responsible for the architectural design of the IOWN APN and overall network design, as well as the development of human-robot collaborative control technologies. Going forward, NTT will leverage technologies developed at its research laboratories to explore use cases that help address logistics challenges, including last-mile operations. - KCCS
Responsible for the planning and design of warehouse DX use cases, provision of the warehouse environment, and implementation and evaluation of physical AI technologies such as arm robot control and camera-based video analysis.
In addition, KCCS will utilize the warehouse in Nagareyama, Chiba as a demonstration field and operate it as an open lab in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. It will also advance the development and operational verification of a GPU processing platform at ZED Ishikari, which operates on 100% renewable energy.
Future Outlook
NTT and KCCS are actively participating in the IOWN Global Forum*4, and collaborating with global partners to explore applications of the IOWN APN for optimizing warehouse operations through the effective use of renewable energy.
Going forward, the two companies will further develop use cases through demonstration experiments and accelerate the commercialization of sustainable warehouse DX that addresses challenges in the logistics industry.
In addition, they will expand applications in the manufacturing and social infrastructure sectors and create new industrial use cases leveraging the IOWN APN.
[Glossary]
*1ZED Ishikari
Japan's first data center to operate 24/7 on 100% renewable energy, starting in October 2024.
https://biz.kccs.co.jp/service/zero-emission-dc/
(Japanese)
*2First initiative in Japan to connect warehouses with a data center powered by 100% renewable energy
Based on research conducted by NTT and KCCS. The APN is applied as a permanent network infrastructure for operational use.
*3APN (All-Photonics Network)
Refers to the "Arcstar Universal One Ethernet Private Line" service provided by NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc. as an APN offering.
https://www.ntt.com/business/services/network/private-network/arcleasedline.html (Japanese)
*4IOWN Global Forum
The IOWN Global Forum is a private sector organization established in 2020 and comprised of over 180 organizations. The objective of the IOWN Global Forum is to accelerate innovation and adoption of a new communication infrastructure to meet our future data and computing requirements through the development of new technologies, frameworks, specifications, and reference designs in areas such as photonics R&D, distributed computing, use cases, and best practices. For more information, visit:
https://iowngf.org/
About NTT
NTT is a leading global technology innovator, providing a broad range of services to both consumers and businesses. As a mobile operator and provider of infrastructure, networks, and services, NTT is dedicated to promoting a sustainable future through cutting-edge innovations. Our portfolio includes business consulting, AI-powered solutions, application services, global networks, cybersecurity, data center and edge computing, all supported by our deep global industry expertise. Generating over $90 billion in revenue and employing 340,000 professionals, we allocate 30% of our annual profits to fundamental research and development. With operations spanning more than 70 countries and regions, our clients include over 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies, alongside thousands of enterprises, government organizations, and millions of consumers.
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