NTT DOCOMO Deploys Nokia’s Tech to Boost Network Automation

NTT DOCOMO has deployed Nokia's MantaRay AutoPilot system. Through doing so, the operator intends to achieve Autonomous Networks Level 4, as defined by the TM Forum.

To ensure rapid deployment, the operator implemented MantaRay AutoPilot on a public cloud, which NTT DOCOMO claims is a world first. The company adopted Nokia’s MantaRay SON in November 2025, reducing manual workloads and enabling faster and more precise network quality improvements. 

However, pre-design of parameters and configuration policies still had to be done manually. This made it hard to make real-time changes in response to changing congestion patterns. In addition, the optimisation cycle could only be run daily and determining which configuration changes are needed and measuring their effectiveness required manual intervention.

NTT DOCOMO says that Manta AutoPilot removes these limitations. It automatically designs network parameters and policies and performs real-time optimisation based on congestion patterns across locations and times of day.

Continuous optimisation

Now that NTT DOCOMO has deployed MantaRay AutoPilot, it, MantaRay SON and the operator’s base stations continuously execute a four-step cycle:

• Data collection: Real-time performance data, including traffic volumes and communication quality from base stations, managed by MantaRay SON, is fed into MantaRay AutoPilot
• AI analysis and decision-making: MantaRay AutoPilot combines this data with operator-defined goals. It then automatically determines which parameters need to be changed and the best timing for these changes.
• Optimisation directives: MantaRay AutoPilot sends quality optimisation directives to MantaRay SON at intervals as short as 15 minutes. 
• Optimisation execution: MantaRay SON then remotely configures the affected base stations.

Deploying the solution on a public cloud eliminated bottlenecks caused by hardware procurement times. NTT DOCOMO intends to integrate MantaRay AutoPilot with various cloud-based AI platforms.

Network automation’s benefits

The TM Forum defines Level 4 Autonomous Networks as introducing “decision-making based on intent-driven, predictive analysis, and the capability to perform closed-loop management of service-driven and customer experience-driven networks via AI modelling and continuous learning.” 

It adds that reaching this level requires operators to undergo “complex phases of technology change” in their networks. 

Level 4 is the second highest level of network automation identified by the TM Forum. Its research suggests that reaching maturity in network automation could cut operations and maintenance costs by as much as 55%, improve customer satisfaction by 71% and lead to a 21% increase in energy savings. This would also help operators reach their sustainability goals.