Japan's communications ministry plans overseas trials of a general-purpose operating system for fiber-optic network equipment, aiming to offer an affordable alternative to the proprietary software used by many companies and help countries rely less on 
Huawei and other Chinese products.
Testing begins this fiscal year in over 10 countries across Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Local carriers will assess the performance of the OS and compatibility with their systems. 
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will recruit companies to handle the trials soon.
The software will be installed in general-purpose devices from manufacturers in Taiwan and elsewhere, with customers paying usage fees. Efforts will be made to allay concerns about questions such as where responsibility lies for any breakdown in networks that use equipment from multiple companies.
Huawei led the global market for optical network equipment in 2023 with a roughly 30% share. Adding #5 provider Wuhan FiberHome International Technologies boosts the market share of Chinese players beyond 35%. Japan's Fujitsu and NEC hold a combined share of only 5%.
Huawei's high share owes partly to government support that has helped the company sell its telecom equipment and OS at low prices. Its compatibility with products from other suppliers is poor, which can cause vendor lock-in due to the difficulty of switching.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone in 2020 formed an international organization for optical networking to discuss technological specifications at the development stage, with more than 150 members including Sony Group, Google and Intel.
asia.nikkei.com/Business/Telec
Huawei and other Chinese products.
Testing begins this fiscal year in over 10 countries across Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Local carriers will assess the performance of the OS and compatibility with their systems. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will recruit companies to handle the trials soon.
The software will be installed in general-purpose devices from manufacturers in Taiwan and elsewhere, with customers paying usage fees. Efforts will be made to allay concerns about questions such as where responsibility lies for any breakdown in networks that use equipment from multiple companies.
Huawei led the global market for optical network equipment in 2023 with a roughly 30% share. Adding #5 provider Wuhan FiberHome International Technologies boosts the market share of Chinese players beyond 35%. Japan's Fujitsu and NEC hold a combined share of only 5%.
Huawei's high share owes partly to government support that has helped the company sell its telecom equipment and OS at low prices. Its compatibility with products from other suppliers is poor, which can cause vendor lock-in due to the difficulty of switching.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone in 2020 formed an international organization for optical networking to discuss technological specifications at the development stage, with more than 150 members including Sony Group, Google and Intel.
asia.nikkei.com/Business/Telec