Nokia’s AI Network Platform Gains Traction with Google Gemini Integration and NTT Docomo Rollout

Nokia activates first commercial Level 4 autonomous 5G network on public cloud with NTT Docomo, while integrating Google Gemini AI to boost software-driven telecom management.

Nokia is accelerating its push into autonomous network management, landing two high-profile deals in quick succession that underscore its pivot from hardware vendor to software platform. The Finnish telecom equipment maker has activated its MantaRay AutoPilot system with Japan’s NTT Docomo — the world’s first commercial deployment of the software on a public cloud infrastructure — while simultaneously deepening its partnership with Google Cloud to embed Gemini AI models into its network operations tools.

The NTT Docomo deployment marks a milestone for Nokia’s software strategy. The AI now monitors and optimises the carrier’s 5G network entirely without human intervention, achieving what industry observers classify as autonomy Level 4. The system predicts network conditions and adjusts operations in real time, eliminating the manual steps that previously slowed down management. Crucially, the use of a public cloud sidesteps lengthy hardware procurement cycles, allowing faster implementation — a selling point Nokia is now taking to other telecom operators looking to upgrade existing 5G networks with artificial intelligence.

On the partnership front, Nokia is integrating Google’s Gemini large language models into its Assurance Center, a tool used by operators to manage complex multi-vendor IP networks. The collaboration aims to create fully autonomous networks that self-monitor and optimise using Gemini-based AI agents. Nokia is positioning its platform as the base layer on which partners build, leveraging its patent portfolio and connectivity know-how. The Google deal is part of a broader ecosystem push: Nokia is also working with Nvidia on an AI grid and AI-driven radio access networks (AI-RAN), with field trials pencilled in for late 2026. Separately, Nokia’s own “Agentic AI” framework for its Network Services Platform is slated for commercial release by year-end.

The twin announcements have given Nokia’s stock a lift, though the shares remain well below their 2024 peak. On the day the Google partnership was disclosed, the stock gained 3% to close at €12.32. The NTT Docomo news later pushed the shares to a close of €12.66 on Monday. Year-to-date, the stock has surged roughly 127%, while the twelve-month gain stands at nearly 186%. Still, the price is about 18% off the annual high of €14.97 set in early June, and a monthly decline of 6% signals some cooling. Nokia’s annualised volatility of 79% underlines its sensitivity to sector headlines.

Financial details of the NTT Docomo contract remain undisclosed, shifting attention to scalability. Nokia must now demonstrate that this pilot can translate into recurring revenue from a broader set of operators. The Google partnership strengthens its pitch to carriers that choosing Nokia’s software gives them direct access to one of the most powerful AI models in the market — but converting that promise into signed contracts will be key. Early indications could come with the third-quarter results, where investors will look for evidence that Nokia’s platform strategy is gaining commercial traction.