NTT showcased the capabilities of its IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) All-Photonics Network by enabling a live, synchronized theatrical performance between Japan and Taiwan during Expo 2025 in Osaka. The event, titled “CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN,” featured performers in Osaka and Taipei sharing a virtual stage, with low-latency optical transmission linking their movements in real time. The IOWN APN, deployed internationally in partnership with Chunghwa Telecom, became operational in August 2024.
The production fused Japan’s contemporary Cho-Kabuki with Taiwan’s Guan Jiang Shou performance tradition. Audience interaction was integrated using cross-modal search technology that tracked penlight motion in real time, allowing the crowd to influence the storyline. The experience also included a multilingual AI-generated “Shidō Twin” created with NTT’s digital twin and speech synthesis tools, providing multilingual guidance for visitors and explaining how to enjoy the show using smart earphones.
The IOWN APN is designed to improve the efficiency of long-distance data transmission by eliminating optical-electrical-optical conversions, aiming for significant gains in energy efficiency, bandwidth, and latency. It forms one of three pillars of the broader IOWN initiative, alongside Digital Twin Computing and the Cognitive Foundation, with support from more than 150 member organizations in the IOWN Global Forum. At Expo 2025, NTT’s Pavilion theme “Parallel Travel” demonstrates the evolution of communication—from telegrams to immersive photonic infrastructure.
- NTT used IOWN APN to enable synchronized performance between Japan and Taiwan
- APN eliminates O-E-O conversions to enable low-latency, high-capacity transmission
- Interactive audience participation enabled through real-time sensor tracking
- AI-powered multilingual digital twin guided attendees before and during the performance
- IOWN initiative supported by 150+ members, including Intel and Sony
“We want to show the world how communication and human experiences can evolve in parallel through the power of photonics and AI,” said an NTT spokesperson.
