The International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) has approved a framework for Low Latency Energy Efficient Networks as an international standard. The approval, granted on 13 August 2026, establishes Recommendation ITU-T Y.3335 as the formal standard defining network configurations and technical requirements for low-latency, energy-efficient communication paths across different operators.
Seven Japanese telecommunications and technology organisations — KDDI Corporation, NTT, 1Finity (a Fujitsu company), NEC Corporation, Rakuten Mobile, Oki Electric Industry and Sumitomo Electric Industries — collaborated to develop the framework and announced the standardisation on 21 August 2026.
ITU-T Approves Framework as International Standard
Recommendation ITU-T Y.3335 is intended to provide a common technical basis for building Low Latency Energy Efficient Networks that work across multiple operators. The framework systematically organises knowledge accumulated through All-Photonics Network (APN) development and research into photonic network federation technology, which enables stable interconnection among APNs operated by different providers.
Crucially, the standard is designed to be independent of any specific organisation or implementation method. This means it could serve as a shared reference point not only for the organisations that developed it but also for operators, countries and regions beyond these initial efforts. The aim is to make it easier to achieve global-scale network interoperability and adoption based on broad international consensus.
Standard Sets Common Basis for Multi-Operator Networks
APN is a next-generation network technology that supports high-capacity, low-latency and energy-efficient communications. It is considered a foundational technology for future services including physical AI, sensors and remote robots, where real-time processing of data from distributed locations is essential.
Prior to this standardisation, the IOWN Global Forum had been developing common technical documents on APN architecture and functional requirements. Research into photonic network federation technology — enabling interconnection among APNs run by different providers — was also underway, with interconnection methods being evaluated using actual equipment. However, extending Low Latency Energy Efficient Networks beyond these existing initiatives required an internationally recognised framework built on broad consensus. That is the gap Recommendation ITU-T Y.3335 is intended to fill.
The approval from ITU-T provides a common framework through which APN services spanning multiple operators could be built. It is also expected to support telecom standards that enable high-speed, energy-efficient communication services even across geographically distributed sites.
APN Framework Supports AI-Era Connectivity
APN sits within Japan’s national strategy for next-generation information and communications infrastructure, forming a strategic field under the country’s Beyond 5G Promotion Strategy 2.0, promoted by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
The seven companies involved have stated they will continue to promote standardisation activities both in Japan and overseas. Within ITU-T, the group is also contributing to the development of a further Recommendation on functional architecture for Low Latency Energy Efficient Networks, with a target completion date of October 2028. This ongoing work is part of broader efforts to support the global adoption of APN and extend its reach as a basis for AI-era network interoperability.
The standardisation of ITU-T Y.3335 represents a structured step towards enabling next-generation photonic networks that can operate reliably across borders and between different telecom operators, with low latency and improved energy efficiency at the core of the design.