stc group Deploys Nokia’s AI-Powered Autopilot for Seamless Network Operations During Hajj
stc group utilized Nokia’s AI-powered MantaRay Autopilot for seamless and autonomous radio access network (RAN) operations during the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This deployment is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to advance national digital infrastructure through smart technologies. The system reduced cell outages by 60% and made over 15,000 autonomous network adjustments per hour during peak Hajj season. The solution enabled fully autonomous network operations, ensuring high-quality, uninterrupted service for millions of pilgrims.
MantaRay Autopilot is a key component of Nokia’s MantaRay Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) solution. It is designed to monitor RAN performance and make real-time adjustments without human intervention. The system uses self-healing network technology to detect faults, redistribute load, and optimize coverage. For this deployment, it also analyzed network behavior data from previous Hajj seasons to anticipate congestion and support proactive planning by stc’s operational teams.
These capabilities allowed stc group to manage peak demand with greater agility. At its highest load, the system made over 15,000 autonomous network adjustments per hour, a 50% increase over 2024, and reduced cell outages by 60%. It also delivered a 10% increase in peak throughput and boosted average speeds across the network by up to 20-30%.
Haytham Alfaraj, CTO of stc group, stated, “stc group is committed to using advanced and cutting edge technology to deliver the best experience to our customers, particularly when it matters most – such as during the Hajj. By leveraging Nokia’s Cognitive AI, we ensured millions of pilgrims remained connected throughout one of the world’s most dense and demanding environments.”
Mikko Lavanti, Senior Vice President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, commented, “This deployment demonstrates the power of AI and automation in managing large-scale, high-pressure network environments. We are proud to support stc group in delivering reliable performance during Hajj and to showcase how our MantaRay Autopilot leads the way in autonomous network operations.”
MantaRay Autopilot applies intent-based AI to automate and optimize RAN. It supports advanced automation tools, including SON modules and rApps, and is the only SMO solution to achieve Level 4 certification under TM Forum’s Autonomous Networks Framework.
