AI Takes the Helm: DOCOMO and Nokia Automate Japan's 5G Future

HELSINKI, FINLAND – November 24, 2025 – In a move that signals a profound shift in how next-generation telecommunications networks are managed, Japan’s NTT DOCOMO is partnering with Nokia to deploy an advanced, AI-driven automation solution across its sprawling 5G infrastructure. The collaboration will see Nokia’s MantaRay Self-Organizing Networks (SON) solution integrated into DOCOMO's complex, multi-vendor radio access network, promising a new era of operational efficiency, cost savings, and a blueprint for the future of autonomous digital supply chains.

This isn't merely a software upgrade; it's a strategic pivot towards what the industry calls "closed-loop operations"—a state where the network can autonomously detect, diagnose, and optimize itself without human intervention. The deployment, already underway, is a critical step in DOCOMO's ambitious quest to achieve Level 4 autonomous network operations, setting a new benchmark for the global telecom industry.

The End of Manual Tweaking: AI Steps In

Modern 5G networks are marvels of complexity, comprising thousands of base stations and millions of individual cells that must work in perfect harmony to deliver the high-speed, low-latency connectivity users demand. Managing this intricate web manually is rapidly becoming untenable, both technically and financially. This operational pressure is the driving force behind the adoption of Self-Organizing Networks, and Nokia’s MantaRay solution represents the cutting edge of this evolution.

By leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms, MantaRay SON automates a vast array of routine yet critical tasks, from network planning and provisioning to ongoing verification and configuration changes. The platform’s AI engine continuously analyzes network performance data, proactively identifying potential bottlenecks or service degradation and implementing corrective actions in near real-time. This concept of "closed-loop automation" drastically reduces the need for manual oversight, freeing up engineering talent to focus on higher-value strategic initiatives.

The tangible benefits of such systems have been demonstrated in other large-scale deployments. Operators using similar AI-powered SON solutions have reported significant performance gains, such as a 29% improvement in busy hour downlink throughput and a 22% reduction in 5G dropped call rates. Furthermore, with energy consumption from base stations accounting for up to 80% of a mobile network's power usage, the efficiency gains from AI are not just about performance. In one notable case, the deployment of MantaRay led to a 13% reduction in energy consumption across an operator's 4G and 5G networks—a critical advantage in an era of rising energy costs and corporate sustainability goals.

DOCOMO's Strategic Push for Level 4 Autonomy

For NTT DOCOMO, this partnership is a cornerstone of its long-term strategic vision. The Japanese telecom giant has publicly stated its goal of achieving Level 4 autonomous network operations, a designation that signifies a high degree of automation where the system can make complex decisions and adapt to unforeseen scenarios with minimal human input. This deployment is a direct and significant investment toward that goal.

The integration of MantaRay SON into DOCOMO’s existing operational systems is designed to create a more cohesive and intelligent network management framework. By automating the quality improvement cycle, the operator expects to deliver a more consistent and reliable customer experience, a key differentiator in Japan's highly competitive mobile market.

Masafumi Masuda, General Manager of the Radio Access Design Department and Senior Vice President at NTT DOCOMO, INC., emphasized the strategic value of the collaboration. “Nokia’s highly automated MantaRay SON solution will help us deliver an enhanced customer experience by accelerating our quality improvement cycles,” he stated. “Its advanced AI features will reduce operational costs and further improve service quality.” This highlights the dual drivers behind the initiative: enhancing service delivery while fundamentally improving the economic model of network operations.

Unlocking the Network: The Multi-Vendor and O-RAN Promise

Perhaps the most disruptive aspect of this partnership lies in its embrace of a multi-vendor environment. For decades, network operators were often locked into a single equipment provider's ecosystem, creating a rigid and often costly supply chain. Nokia's MantaRay SON is designed to function as an intelligent management layer across equipment from various suppliers, a capability that is critical for operators like DOCOMO who intentionally build their networks with components from multiple vendors.

This approach directly supports the principles of Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN), an industry-wide movement to disaggregate network hardware and software and promote open interfaces. By ensuring interoperability, O-RAN aims to foster innovation, increase vendor diversity, and give operators the flexibility to choose best-of-breed solutions for each part of their network.

DOCOMO's Masafumi Masuda explicitly linked the deployment to this forward-looking strategy, noting that MantaRay SON’s “open interface capabilities will strengthen our O-RAN 5G commercial network.” Looking ahead, the plan to incorporate Non-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC) capabilities will further align DOCOMO’s network with the O-RAN architecture. The Non-RT RIC acts as a central hub for AI-driven applications (known as rApps) that can optimize the network over longer time scales, enabling more sophisticated automation and resource management across the entire multi-vendor infrastructure.

Japan Sets the Pace for Next-Generation Operations

This deployment solidifies Japan's position at the vanguard of 5G innovation. While network automation is a global trend, DOCOMO's explicit pursuit of Level 4 autonomy combined with a live, large-scale implementation in a multi-vendor, O-RAN-supportive environment represents a leading-edge approach. It serves as a powerful case study for operators across the Asia-Pacific region and the world who are grappling with the same challenges of 5G complexity and operational costs.

As Mark Atkinson, Head of Radio Access Networks at Nokia, commented, "MantaRay SON represents a significant leap forward in managing the complexity of 5G networks, delivering superior efficiency and customer experience."

The implications extend beyond telecommunications. The successful automation of a national-scale, mission-critical digital infrastructure provides a powerful template for other industries, from logistics and manufacturing to energy and finance. The principles of using AI to manage complex, multi-faceted systems, reduce operational overhead, and build more resilient and efficient supply chains are universal. As NTT DOCOMO and Nokia demonstrate, the era of the self-managing, autonomous network is no longer a distant vision; it is becoming an operational reality.