Why the BIRD is necessary and important
US Telecom CEO stated, we must lay lots(and lots) of fibers to build network infrastructure to reach universal connectivity
The Kathmandu Post, April 19, 2018: Nepal is eager to
implement remote education in rural areas.
ITU estimates that approximately 5.5 billion people are using the Internet in 2024. However, this leaves 2.6 billion people still offline.
Outline of the BIRD*-Fiber to All
＊Broadband Infrastructure for Rural Digitalization
The AI revolution has entered a stage of full-scale social transformation since 2023. AI is no longer just a technology for a select few, but is increasingly positioned as a fundamental technology supporting the entire global community, including education, healthcare, government, and regional collaboration.
A prerequisite for this is a stable broadband internet connection. Practical use of AI requires a communication environment with download speeds of at least 10-30Mbps.
However, as of the end of 2025, only approximately 1.2-1.6 billion people worldwide, or roughly 15% of the total population, could reliably access this level of internet. While the AI revolution continues to advance, disparities in connectivity are widening and global divisions have already reached a dangerous level.
Against this backdrop, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has raised its definition of fixed-line broadband from the previous 25/3Mbps to 100/20Mbps, and has also proposed a future reference standard of 1/0.5Gbps.
Solution BIRD was developed as a “backhaul line” connecting backbone lines with e.g, mobile base stations in remote locations. Its innovative, lightweight, and durable optical cable based on submarine cable technology and unique installation concept enable the simple, inexpensive, reliable, and rapid deployment of high-speed Internet even in areas where installation was previously difficult, such as mountainous regions, jungles, deserts, lakes, marshes, and peatlands.
The BIRD concept was devised by Global Plan CEO, Dr. Okamura, and technical requirements were discussed at ITU-T SG5 and SG15. By 2019, it had been internationally standardized as the first three ITU Recommendations explicitly addressing the “elimination of the digital divide.”
See the following ITU news:
Details of the BIRD
A land-use optical cable based on submarine optical cable used in Solution BIRD. Up to 48 optical fibers are protected in a welded thick stainless steel tube. The cross sections of similar optical cables show “Japanese quality”.
Mr. Okamura being interviewed about Solution BIRD at WTSA2019