The dissemination of ICT, exemplified by the Internet, has not only dramatically increased the speed of communication and connected up the world; it has also brought about a fusion of the real and virtual. People's values are diversifying, and the world is moving toward "personalization of desire." From the infrastructure perspective, however, the sudden surge in the number of electronic devices and the volume of data strains networks, and is a major cause of concern in terms of increasing energy consumption. The diversification and personalization of values is also causing fragmentation. There are multiple factors behind this, including: a deluge of information exceeding human information processing capabilities, limitations of existing social systems, and growth of information disparities. In light of these current conditions, the IOWN initiative aims to shift from a world of electronics (electrons) to a world of photonics (light). This will lay a foundation for quickly and accurately transmitting large volumes of data, creating natural "information environment " interfaces where people are unaware of the underlying technology, and supporting global diversity with the power of networks and information processing. Supervising Editor Jun Sawada President, Chief Executive Officer, and Member of the Board, NTT. Authors Motoyuki Ii Senior Executive Vice President and Member of the Board, NTT. Katsuhiko Kawazoe Senior Vice President, Head of Research and Development Planning, Member of the Board, NTT.