Tokyo –Nov. 20, 2025 – NTT, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Akira Shimada, hereafter "NTT"), Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Chairman: Chien Chih-Cheng, hereafter "Chunghwa Telecom"), and Accton Technology Corporation (Headquarters: Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu City, Chairman: Kuo-Hsiu Huang, hereafter "Accton ") Edgecore Networks Corporation (Headquarters: Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu City, President: Mingshou Liu, hereafter "Edgecore")are collaborating on enhancing distributed data centers. By integrating Accton/Edgecore's products with NTT's IOWN Photonic Disaggregated Computing technology in the international IOWN APN (All-Photonics Network) initiated by NTT and Chunghwa Telecom, this collaboration aims to upgrade distributed data centers, including those between Japan and Taiwan, using IOWN technology, thereby addressing the increasing demand for AI infrastructure.
As the first phase, they will utilize Japanese data centers for a distributed data center model to provide more high-efficient computing resources associated with the high demand for learning and inference in Taiwan. The outcomes of this initiative will be exhibited at the NTT R&D FORUM 2025.
Background
NTT and Chunghwa Telecom have been engaged in joint experiments to create new use cases using APN, based on a Basic Agreement signed on October 25, 2023. Last August, they launched the international APN and, this May, conducted the Cho-Kabuki performance at the Expo 2025. Meanwhile, NTT and Accton, through its subsidiary Edgecore, offer IOWN network solutions that enable 400Gbps high-speed connections between data centers, and have announced a plan to launch the "Photonics-Electronics Convergence Switch" in the market by 2026.
Technology Highlights
At NTT R&D FORUM 2025, Chunghwa Telecom showcases a cross-border distributed AI data center solution connecting Taiwan and Japan, designed to support high-speed transmission of training data and demonstrates a practical application of remote GPU over APN tailored for AI workloads.
In Addition, NTT and Accton/Edgecore also started joint experiments to create use cases using IOWN Photonic Disaggregated Computing. By combining Edgecore's powerful platform, designed for distributed data centers, distributed AI workloads, and IOWN, with NTT's ongoing developments in computing implementation and their DCI (Data Centric Infrastructure) controller technology—which allows for flexible and precise assignment, monitoring, and control of computing resources an innovative approach to achieving power efficiency will be pursued.
Through the use of these technologies, the four companies plan to collaborate on creating use cases for distributed DC. Specifically, to address Taiwan’s high demand for learning and inference along with challenges like Taiwan's data center and power shortages, they will utilize Japanese data centers via the international IOWN APN. This will enable resource control across multiple data centers, even if they belong to different countries or operators, using the DCI controller, aiming for the early societal implementation of distributed DCs that allow flexible management of data centers at an international level.
Endorsements
NTT’s CTO and SEVP, Riaki Hoshino commented, “NTT would like to develop and provide a next-gen AI computing infrastructure with high-flexibility for space and power-supply demands. NTT’s expertise in optical technologies enables IOWN Photonic Disaggregated Computing to provide on-demand dynamic computing resource allocation capabilities across racks, floors, and datacenters for sustainable AI development. I’m excited to demonstrate the international collaborations with Chunghwa Telecom and Accton/Edgecore for global deployment of the next-gen AI computing infrastructure.”
Chunghwa Telecom’s CTO & SEVP, Chih-Hsiung Huang, states, “Chunghwa Telecom is committed to the development of next-generation information and communication technologies, aiming to enhance both communication and computing performance while promoting energy conservation, carbon reduction, and sustainable development. Upholding our brand spirit of “Always Ahead,” Chunghwa Telecom continues to pursue its ESG goals of energy efficiency and corporate sustainability. Through active investment in innovation and R&D, the company strives to deliver more diverse and convenient network and application services to the public.”
Mingshou Liu, President of Edgecore, Accton Group company states,“We are excited to collaborate with NTT and Chunghwa Telecom to advance the future of AI infrastructure. By integrating our distributed data center platforms with NTT’s IOWN Photonic Disaggregated Computing and DCI controller technologies, we are enabling scalable, cross-border AI workloads that meet the growing demand for learning and inference. This initiative not only addresses Taiwan’s infrastructure constraints but also lays the foundation for a globally connected, energy-efficient AI ecosystem."
▲ Chih-Hsiung Huang (left), CTO & SEVP of Chunghwa Telecom, Riaki Hoshino (middle), CTO and SEVP of NTT, and Chris Huang (right), EVP of Edgecore, showcased the Taiwan-Japan Distributed Datacenter Use Case at the 2025 NTT R&D FORUM
Future Developments
Going forward, the focus will be on establishing use cases utilizing this distributed DC, specifically targeting the manufacturing industry, the financial sector and the government. This will be achieved by combining the IOWN Photonic Disaggregated Computing including DCI controller technology. Based on these efforts, NTT and Chunghwa Telecom aim to jointly expand the Japan-Taiwan distributed DC business. In addition, NTT, Chunghwa Telecom and Accton will also provide feedback on the DCI architecture of the IOWN Global Forum.
Media contacts
NTT
Research and Development Planning Department
Chunghwa Telecom
Media Relations
Accton/Edgecore
Media contact
Lucille Lu
