PIL is promoting R&D on next-generation photonic network technologies. It encourages its members to submit proposals to global standardization bodies such as ITU-T, IETF, and OIF. It also tests the photonic network control programs developed by its member companies. PIL has two objectives: i) to create new control technologies that can be accepted as international standards and ii) to rigorously test the protocol software code developed by each company. Founded in September 2002 to promote research on and development of the next-generation photonic network and encourage global standardization activities, PIL currently consists of seven companies: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.(NTT), NEC Corporation, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Oki Electric Industry Co., and Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd. PIL activities are supported by the research and development aimed at acquiring international technical standards as part of the Strategic Information and Communications R&D Promotion Scheme of the MPHPT (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications) for funding selected IT activities.