The article is an interview with NTT DOCOMO, INC. which operates "docomo R&D OPEN LAB ODAIBA Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Corporate Location Advisory Center website on February 7.

Tokyo Metropolitan Enterprise Location Consultation Center (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), which operates the "docomo R&D OPEN LAB ODAIBA," a collaboration space for developers, and published a report on its website on February 7, 2024. The interview was published on February 7, 2024 (Wednesday) on the website of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Corporate Location Consultation Center.

Mr. Mitsushi Wada, Manager, Cloud Solutions, Service Innovation Department, R&D Innovation Division, NTT DOCOMO, INC.

Cutting-edge lab for developers operated by NTT DOCOMO

The business environment continues to change at a dizzying pace on a daily basis. It is becoming increasingly difficult for a single company to maintain a competitive advantage. On June 8, 2023, NTT DOCOMO opened "docomo R&D OPEN LAB ODAIBA" as a collaboration space for developers to engage in co-creation. The number of users is steadily increasing as a place where diverse developers can gather, stimulate each other, and share ideas and issues necessary for the success of DX. We interviewed Mr. Mitsushi Wada, R&D Innovation Division, NTT DOCOMO, INC.

Located in the Tokyo waterfront subcenter with convenient access to two train lines

First, we asked him about the background of the opening.

Mr. Wada said, "We had been holding discussions with outside experts on topics such as our cloud-related products and 5G solutions since around 2019, but the Corona disaster in spring 2020 and beyond made it difficult to do so. While the ability for people to gather was severely restricted, it was suggested that it would be good to have a place in Tokyo where we could gather people from outside the company to hold events and coworking with an eye to the future. This is why we started the project to launch the Lab in around 2021. However, due to the global shortage of semiconductors in 2009, the installation of 5G base stations was delayed, and the opening was set for June 2023.

The building where the lab will be located stands in Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, known as the "Tokyo waterfront subcenter. The building is located in Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, a place where NTT DOCOMO originally developed its business in the Telecom Center Building in Aomi. Access is a 1-minute walk from Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station on the new Yurikamome Line and a 3-minute walk from Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line. It is also easy to travel from central Tokyo.

The easy access from Tameike-Sanno, where our head office is located, was a major factor in our choice of Daiba, not to mention those outside the company. As of mid-November 2023, a total of about 3,200 people have visited the lab, and through events and study sessions, new projects are gradually emerging. Through events and workshops, new projects are gradually emerging.

Large LED display in the BRIDGE area. At the time of the interview, images of the Rainbow Bridge were being projected in real time.

The BRIDGE area is fully equipped with large LED displays and other amenities. Events can also be held "without any equipment.

Next, we asked Mr. Wada how NTT DOCOMO differentiates itself from the gradually increasing number of co-creation labs run by corporations and local governments.

We offer the latest DOCOMO network equipment, next-generation optical network equipment, and a total of eight technologies (5G/6G, IOWN, XR, AI, MEC, IoT, Web3, and Robotics) as our main areas of expertise for developers."

Moreover, there is "no charge" to use the facility.

The fee is free of charge because we want developers with as diverse thoughts, ideas, and goals as possible to come to our facility. Anyone can obtain an entrance pass by registering as a member through the dedicated website. Also, events and workshops can be held free of charge."

There are three areas open to the public.

The first is the BRIDGE area, which has a large LED display measuring 8 meters wide by 2.2 meters high and capable of displaying extremely high-definition images. We are considering the possibility of using the LED display to experiment with communication between people in the virtual space and those in the real space, and to hold events such as live performances of life-size V-tubers on the display, FOREST area next to the BRIDGE. Normally, this area is divided into 7 meeting spaces and can be used for closed events, but it can also be used as an event space for up to 50 people by connecting up to 4 meeting spaces. The third area, the PARK area, can be used for school-style events for up to 40 people. It has individually separated work spaces and a small area where people can take off their shoes and relax."

Events can also be webcast, hybrid streamed, and YouTube live streamed, so they can be viewed online.

Of course we are fully equipped with mixers and microphones." Since the opening of our lab, our employees have created the ideal environment for hosting events through trial and error, such as adjusting the position of microphones and speakers to avoid feedback. Therefore, you can hold an event almost empty-handed, with no devices other than your own PC. We have also installed under-floor power supplies every 2 meters to allow power supply from anywhere, and we have run special rails on the ceiling. This has been well received, as it allows cameras to be installed and experiments to be conducted at various locations within the museum. In addition, we have increased the contracted power so that many experiments and events can be held at the same time, ensuring that we have sufficient power."

The Open Developers Conference 2023 event held on August 26, 2023. As a place for developers and infrastructure engineers to interact, the latest information was exchanged with the keywords "DevOps," "development," and "developers.

■First of all, we want to have fun together and aim for a better direction for everyone

Finally, he had a message for those who are interested in the Lab.

We hope to create a space where everyone can work together in a positive direction, first having fun while creating, and then brushing up their skills while improving their technology, rather than creating a new business in a short period of time. We hope to share information with the developers who come to the Lab by frankly discussing the challenges NTT DOCOMO faces and, conversely, the challenges you face, so that we can share information and develop new technologies to break through Japan's lagging position in the global digital competitiveness.

In addition to the three areas mentioned above, there is also a PROJECT area on the floor where the lab is located. In addition to the three areas mentioned above, there is also a project area on the floor where the lab is located, which they hope will be used as a space for long-term demonstration experiments involving outside partners.

docomo R&D OPEN LAB ODAIBA is a collaboration space where many developers from inside and outside of the company can gather and work on technological development while stimulating each other through events, study sessions, meetups, hackathons, and so on. We hope you will make active use of this space by participating in events of interest on our website, or by using it as a venue for your own events.

Outline of the facility

Facility name: docomo R&D OPEN LAB ODAIBA

Location: Daiba Frontier Building 12F, 2-3-2 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Facility management and operation: NTT DOCOMO, INC.

Establishment ： June 2023 (2023)

Details of support: Free provision of collaboration space for events, working space, etc.

　　　　　　　　 Free provision of collaboration space for events, working space, etc.

　　　　　　　　 Provision of state-of-the-art facilities, including 5G, and security

　　　　　　　　 Rental of project rooms with state-of-the-art facilities and security such as 5G

Website ： https://docomo-openlab.jp/