NTT DOCOMO has introduced an AI-powered network optimization platform from Nokia, becoming the first company in Japan to put MantaRay AutoPilot into operation. The deployment took effect on June 19 and represents a new stage in the company's efforts to automate mobile network management. To speed implementation, DOCOMO chose a public cloud environment for the system, creating what it describes as the first commercial mobile network optimization deployment of MantaRay AutoPilot on a public cloud.

The new platform expands on DOCOMO's earlier adoption of Nokia's MantaRay SON, which the company introduced in November 2025. That system automated network optimization through continuous monitoring and automatic adjustments, helping reduce manual operational work while improving the speed and accuracy of network-quality enhancements. Even with those capabilities, personnel still needed to manually create parameter designs and configuration policies before optimization could begin.

MantaRay AutoPilot removes that requirement by allowing artificial intelligence to generate network parameters and policies automatically. DOCOMO establishes desired network outcomes, referred to as intents, and the system evaluates base station quality and performance data to determine how optimization should be carried out. The platform also decides execution timing and works alongside MantaRay SON to complete a full optimization process in as little as 15 minutes.

The optimization process operates continuously throughout the day, enabling the AI to adapt settings according to changing congestion conditions across different locations and time periods. DOCOMO said this capability supports ongoing network tuning and helps maintain more consistent data communication performance across a broad range of usage scenarios. The company also stated that the public cloud approach allowed deployment without delays associated with hardware procurement and could support future integration with multiple cloud-based AI platforms.

DOCOMO views the deployment as a step toward Autonomous Networks Level 4, a classification established by TM Forum. At that level, AI can anticipate network conditions and manage network operations without human involvement. The company plans to continue assessing the platform in commercial environments as it advances its use of AI-driven network management technologies to improve communication service quality for customers.

📊 What This Means (Our Analysis)

The announcement highlights a shift from automating network adjustments to automating the decision-making process behind those adjustments. By enabling AI to create parameters and policies instead of relying on manual preparation, DOCOMO is extending automation into areas that traditionally required direct operational input. That distinction makes the deployment notable because it changes how network optimization workflows are executed rather than simply accelerating existing processes.

The use of a public cloud architecture also stands out because it supports faster deployment and creates flexibility for future connections with cloud-based AI platforms. Combined with the goal of reaching Autonomous Networks Level 4, the initiative demonstrates how AI is being applied not only to improve network performance but also to reduce operational complexity while maintaining continuous optimization across changing network conditions.

📌 Our Take: The deployment signals a future where AI increasingly handles network management decisions in real time.