NEC Corporation is making significant strides with its latest partnership and technological developments, reshaping the tech and network service sectors. Today, NEC X, the venture studio backed by NEC’s expansive portfolio, announced its partnership with Carbide Ventures, known for its hands-on mentorship and success with B2B SaaS startup scaling.
This collaboration is expected to empower tech entrepreneurs through resources, funding, and extensive networking opportunities. Shintaro Matsumoto, President and CEO of NEC X, highlighted the importance of this partnership, stating, "Carbide Ventures’ leadership embodies the entrepreneurial spirit our Elev X! programs are..." This synergy aims to propel early-stage companies to global prominence as they navigate the fiercely competitive technology environment.
Carbide Ventures, led by Hiro Yoshikawa—who scaled Treasure Data to significant heights before its acquisition by Arm—and Dan Weirich, brings valuable expertise to the table. Yoshikawa articulated the rationale behind the partnership, expressing, "Building a company is never easy..." This reflects the need for strategic partnerships to drive innovation and success.
Meanwhile, NEC continues to innovate with the rollout of its Near Real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) platform, which operates under the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) Alliance specifications. This new platform is pivotal for enhancing 5G network capabilities, utilizing general-purpose hardware to customize radio access networks based on service needs and conditions.
The Near-RT RIC is equipped to handle multiple core functionalities including load balancing between cells, guaranteeing Service Level Agreements (SLA) for network slices, and maintaining high reliability with acceptable latency. These features cater to the increasing demand for responsive and flexible network services, especially as more industries transition to 5G technologies.
One of the standout applications of the Near-RT RIC is its ability to quickly resolve loading imbalances between adjacent cells, improving throughput significantly during peak usage times. This ensures optimal performance even under stress, as networks can dynamically allocate resources where they are most needed.
NEC has showcased the efficacy of this technology through practical demonstrations, including experiments involving remote-controlled mobile robots within 5G environments. The results indicated dramatic improvements; packet latency occurrences were reduced to less than one-sixth using the RIC compared to traditional methods, underscoring its potential to revolutionize connectivity and reliability.
With aspirations set on the future, NEC plans to expand the applications of the Near-RT RIC to address service quality across various mobile network segments. This dedication to enhancing operational autonomy—using AI to optimize resource utilization—positions NEC at the forefront of the digital transformation pivotal to businesses and consumers alike.
This partnership with Carbide Ventures and the advancements of the Near-RT RIC demonstrate NEC Corporation's commitment to continuous improvement and leadership within the rapidly advancing tech industry. Together, they are poised to shape the future of 5G networks, creating unprecedented opportunities for startups and established companies focusing on next-generation technology solutions.