Nokia Bell Labs and KDDI Research partner for 6G energy efficiency and network resiliency

Nokia Bell Labs and KDDI Research partnered to advance 6G technology by focusing on network energy efficiency and resilience. This collaboration combines KDDI’s operational insights and real-world data with Nokia Bell Labs’ experience in energy consumption models and programmable network architectures. The research agreement, signed on November 5, 2025, aims to enhance the sustainability and intelligence of 6G deployments.

The partnership centers on two primary research areas for 6G. The first area involves mMIMO energy efficiency, which targets new techniques to minimize base station energy usage while improving communication effectiveness, specifically for the upcoming 6G spectrum. The second area focuses on distributed programmable core network services designed to maintain communication continuity during infrastructure failures and natural disasters.

KDDI Research and Nokia Bell Labs plan to showcase their preliminary findings on mMIMO energy efficiency at the Brooklyn 6G Summit from November 5 to 7. Peter Vetter, President of Core Research at Nokia Bell Labs, emphasized the importance of industry collaboration to address challenges in next-generation networking, stating, “Working side by side, KDDI Research and Nokia Bell Labs can advance the state of the art in networking. Ultimately, the joint outcomes will make 6G a more resilient, efficient and intelligent technology.” Satoshi Konishi, President and CEO of KDDI Research, noted that their strategic collaboration aims to speed up Research and Development (R&D) initiatives, highlighting their commitment to delivering value to customers and contributing to societal progress.