R & D for a broadband and flexible network infrastructure

This paper surveys the R&D trends in broadband communication and describes some of the relevant activities of Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., which cover both fixed and mobile networks. In 1999, we proposed a network vision called the Virtual Router Network (VRN) to realize a network that can accommodate a huge amount of IP traffic by fully implementing photonic network technology and aligned our R&D activities in that direction. Since then, we have achieved many important research results. This paper introduces some of our key achievements in network architecture, network management, photonic networks, and mobile communication.