NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS and NTT Com Asia launched an “APN InterLink” service in Hong Kong offering ultra-low-latency photonic interconnectivity for financial institutions. The service is based on NTT’s All-Photonic Network (APN) technology, a core component of the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) initiative. The initial rollout connects NTT Com Asia’s Financial Data Center—located near the Hong Kong Stock Exchange—with its Tai Po Data Center via a fully photonic link designed for latency-sensitive financial operations such as algorithmic and high-frequency trading.
The APN InterLink service provides two options: APN DCLink, offering photonic interconnect between NTT’s Hong Kong data centers for ultra-low-latency data transport, and APN DedicatedLink, which extends photonic connectivity to customer facilities or other data centers across Hong Kong. NTT said the service ensures deterministic latency and reliability, enabling advanced applications such as real-time transaction processing and disaster recovery synchronization between geographically distributed sites.
NTT plans to extend the APN InterLink service across the Asia Submarine-Cable Express (ASE), which links Tokyo and Hong Kong. This expansion will connect with Japan’s “docomo business APN Plus powered by IOWN” to form an integrated photonic backbone for regional financial markets. Both services represent NTT’s broader effort to commercialize IOWN-based infrastructure beyond Japan and accelerate digital transformation in finance and other latency-critical industries.
• APN InterLink service launches in Hong Kong on November 1, 2025
• Built on IOWN’s All-Photonic Network architecture
• Two service options: APN DCLink and APN DedicatedLink
• Designed for latency-sensitive trading and real-time transaction processing
• Plans underway to extend APN across the Tokyo–Hong Kong ASE subsea cable
• Supports disaster recovery and mission-critical operations
“We are pleased to launch APN InterLink in Hong Kong, one of the world’s leading financial hubs. Leveraging the latest IOWN technology, we are committed to building next-generation infrastructure for the financial industry,” said Daisuke Kuroda, CEO of NTT Com Asia.
🌐 Analysis
NTT’s All-Photonic Network (APN) represents a foundational shift from electronic to optical transmission across both long-haul and short-reach network layers. Unlike conventional architectures that rely on optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversion, APN aims to transmit, switch, and process data entirely in the photonic domain. This design promises near-zero latency, higher energy efficiency, and reduced jitter—crucial for financial services where microseconds determine trading advantage.
The IOWN program, spearheaded by NTT Group and the IOWN Global Forum (which includes Intel, Sony, NVIDIA, and others), envisions an ecosystem of all-optical, AI-assisted networks capable of seamlessly linking data centers, wireless systems, and edge devices. APN InterLink in Hong Kong serves as one of the first commercial deployments outside Japan, demonstrating the viability of photonics-based infrastructure for cross-border financial connectivity. As deployment extends across the ASE cable and into other Asian hubs, IOWN could evolve into a practical model for global photonic networking that integrates computing, networking, and sensing into a unified optical fabric.
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