We aim to gain global competitiveness by developing SoCs with variable functions using software and providing them to developers of Beyond 5G applications and services.

Beyond 5G, in addition to government research institutes and academia, the participation of private companies is also expanding.It goes without saying that domestic industry, academia, and government are expected to work together to gain global competitiveness in Beyond 5G and produce results in their respective roles and areas of expertise.This time, Mr. Tanaya, Managing Director of Sharp Corporation and an advanced technology leader, will talk about the many significance of challenging the development of SoC, which is said to influence global competitiveness in the Beyond 5G era, and the future vision of WAKUWAKU. The girls spoke kindly to me.

●Person who answered

-Interviewer: XNUMXG/IoT design girl

This development is for Japan to be at the forefront of communication technology again (Ito).

Sakuma: What kind of research are you doing on Beyond 5G at Sharp, which is known for a number of home appliances and is familiar to us?

Tanetani: Sharp has a wide product lineup from video and information equipment to home appliances, but smartphones are one of its main products, and it also develops and manufactures devices such as semiconductors.Under such circumstances, we are promoting research and development of highly customizable SoC (System on Chip) for IoT terminals in anticipation of Beyond 5G.

Ito: Could you tell us more about the importance of domestic development of SoC?

Tanetani：The SoC in mobile terminals is a semiconductor product that converts radio waves received from the antenna into digital information.In smartphones, which are currently the mainstream, SoC integrates functions such as video processing, application and data storage in addition to wireless communication functions.Since the performance, functions, power consumption, and price of a smartphone are determined by the SoC installed in it, it is no exaggeration to say that it is the most important device that determines market competitiveness.

Sakuma:Is Japan ahead in SoC development technology?

Tanetani: unfortunately not.Sharp also has the technology to develop SoCs for smartphones, but current Sharp smartphones are equipped with SoCs from American and Taiwanese manufacturers.This is because overseas manufacturers have taken the lead in terms of performance and functions. Up to 3G, there were Japanese SoCs, but after 4G, the US, Taiwan, South Korea, and China have dominated the global market.

The fact that Japan does not have a competitive SoC is more problematic than the profitability of smartphone sales, and is creating a disadvantageous situation in the development of related services and applications.This is because even if you try to develop a new communication service or application, you cannot proceed without understanding the contents of the next-generation SoC.In fact, Japan is one year behind the United States, South Korea, and China in the start of 1G communication services.

Therefore, if Japan is to lead in the global market surrounding communication technology and telecommunications, it must secure domestically produced competitive SoCs.For that reason, we envision what kind of SoC is required for Beyond 5G, and are working on research and development to make it a reality as soon as possible.

Sakuma:Is that so. Before Beyond 5G, I realized how important SoC research and development is for Japan.

Proposals for an IoT society that requires various SoCs (Ito)

Ito: Under such circumstances, what kind of SoC are you envisioning for Beyond 5G?

Tanetani: When Beyond 5G, which realizes ultra-high-speed, large-capacity, ultra-multiple connections, ultra-low latency, and ultra-low power consumption, is launched, a full-fledged IoT society will arrive where more various devices will be connected by communication.

Today, each person enjoys making calls, watching videos, and using various apps on their own communication device, represented by smartphones.For example, by embedding a small communication chip in a shoe and wirelessly sending information such as location information to a server, a service can be realized in which useful information can be obtained with a high degree of accuracy without being conscious of it.By embedding chips not only in shoes but also in various things around us, we will naturally be able to have multiple information terminals per person.

Sakuma: How does that affect SoC development?

Tanetani: It is thought that various types of SoC will be required.

Today's smartphones and tablets require highly versatile SoCs that cover a variety of applications, but with Beyond 5G, the area of ​​communication services will expand dramatically, and it will be necessary to process large amounts of data like wearable devices. SoCs suitable for the purposes of individual applications and services will be required, such as those that want to reduce power consumption while not having a large amount of power, or those that can handle large-capacity communication such as exchanging video data from a drive recorder in a car.

Speaking of cars, high-speed and instantaneous data communication for autonomous driving is essential for SoC.

Ito: So it is necessary to create various types of SoCs?

Tanetani: It will.However, there is no end to developing an SoC that specializes in one application or service.

Therefore, we are researching a platform with SoC at its core, which we call a software-defined radio platform.This is a flexible SoC chipset that can be optimized for various uses by rewriting wireless communication functions with software.

It will be a highly customizable SoC for Beyond 5G IoT terminals that can respond to the continuous evolution of information terminals and expansion of applications.

Sakuma: If that SoC is realized early, it will be a big progress for Beyond 5G in Japan.

Tanetani: Yes, you can make a big contribution.Another thing is that it is very significant to bring this SoC to the world as soon as possible.

Sakuma:! ?What is that?

Tanetani: It means that we can take the initiative in creating international standards for Beyond 5G. 4G and 5G standardization was decided by countries and companies with SoCs.In other words, they were led to create standards for their own convenience.Whether or not new functions and specifications could be realized depended heavily on the SoC.If we can provide an SoC platform that can be quickly verified while adjusting it with software, our influence will definitely increase.

Ito: Since I became involved in Beyond 5G, I have learned how important standardization is, so your words are very reassuring.

Tanetani: Patenting your standardization proposal puts you in an advantageous position.In fact, Sharp holds a 3-4% share of the global market for patents related to communication standardization.It seems that it is about 9 % in Japan as a whole.According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the immediate goal is to raise it to the 10% range.

Let's regain a spiritually rich society that is not bound by smartphones (Taneya)

Sakuma: If domestic SoC can be prepared early, it will be deeply involved in Beyond 5G international standards, keep up with the development of new services and applications, and bring back a big advantage to Japan.I thought that it was exactly my own thing for me who is involved in application development.

Tanetani: Japan is a technology-oriented country, so if we do not continue to create new value with cutting-edge technology and contribute to the world, we will not lose the respect we have until now, but we will invite poverty. The next few years as we move to Beyond 5G will undoubtedly be a momentous occasion.I would like to complete a domestically produced SoC and use Japan's Beyond 2025G technology at the World Expo to be held in Osaka in 5 to make a presentation that evokes the future.

Ito: As I am involved in local 5G business development, there were many occasions when I felt that Japan was lagging behind.I am WAKUWAKU that it can stand in the top class in Beyond 5G.

Tanetani: It is not easy to catch up with leading countries and companies.We need more challenges and hard work in the future.

We would like to involve many app developers in Japan and support their development as soon as possible.

We hope to complete the test chip by the end of 2023, and provide the platform to a wide range of companies, universities, and startups around the spring of 2024 for trial use. There is only a short time left until the start of 2030G around 6.

Sakuma: Could you tell us what you think WAKUWAKU wants to do with Beyond 5G?

Tanetani: I want to build a society that is not tied to smartphones.Whether you're walking down the street or riding a train, everyone's eyes are fixed on their smartphone screens.The scenery cannot be called beautiful.

If various terminals are connected to wireless networks, more human-like communication services that do not rely on smartphones should become possible.You'll be able to do things you never thought possible before, and grandparents who can't use smartphones won't be left behind.

At the very least, I'd like to see people walking with their heads up, and no one using smartphones while walking.

Sakuma and Ito: Thank you for sharing your dream story.I am looking forward to the full-fledged IoT society that will be brought about by the SoC that Mr. Tanaya and his colleagues create.We once again felt that we also want to seriously think about new services that will be realized with Beyond 5G!