Nokia introduced its MantaRay SON automation platform into NTT DOCOMO’s multi-vendor LTE and 5G RAN in Japan, marking DOCOMO’s first deployment combining Nokia 5G base stations with DOCOMO’s operational systems. The integration aims to streamline one of the world’s most complex radio networks, which spans thousands of sites and millions of active cells across multiple vendors. The deployment is underway and designed to accelerate DOCOMO’s shift toward more autonomous, closed-loop 5G operations.
The MantaRay SON system automates network planning, provisioning, configuration, and verification tasks that traditionally require significant manual effort. DOCOMO expects the platform to strengthen performance in dense urban zones while reducing operational costs. Nokia said the solution aligns the operator’s various OSS platforms, enabling configuration changes to be detected and executed without human intervention. Future phases will introduce multi-vendor support, MantaRay AutoPilot, and Non-RT RIC integrations.
MantaRay SON serves as a core element of Nokia’s Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) architecture. Combined with DOCOMO’s stated objective of achieving Level 4 autonomous network operations, the solution provides a pathway toward more intelligent, AI-assisted control loops and improved customer experience across DOCOMO’s nationwide network.
• Deployment brings Nokia’s MantaRay SON into DOCOMO’s multi-vendor LTE and 5G RAN
• Automation covers planning, provisioning, configuration, and verification workflows
• Closed-loop operations aim to improve customer experience and reduce operational costs
• Future roadmap includes Non-RT RIC, MantaRay AutoPilot, and expanded multi-vendor support
• Part of Nokia’s broader SMO framework for AI-based network optimization
“Nokia is proud to partner with NTT DOCOMO to bring cutting-edge AI-driven automation to Japan’s telecom industry. MantaRay SON represents a significant leap forward in managing the complexity of 5G networks, delivering superior efficiency and customer experience. Together, we are shaping the future of network operations,” said Mark Atkinson, Head of Radio Access Networks at Nokia.
🌐 Analysis
DOCOMO continues to advance its multi-vendor 5G strategy, building on earlier commercial O-RAN deployments and collaborations with multiple RAN suppliers. Integrating Nokia’s MantaRay SON aligns with DOCOMO’s roadmap toward Level 4 autonomous operations and mirrors similar moves by global operators to deploy AI-driven SMO frameworks. Competitors such as Ericsson and Samsung have also expanded their SON and RIC portfolios in 2025, but DOCOMO’s adoption signals strong demand for open-interface automation in dense national networks.
