Autonomy unleashed: Scaling level-4 networks and achieving the Dark NOC

After seeing what full-scale Dark NOC operations can achieve, this perspective asks a more uncomfortable question: where does the rest of the industry really stand today? Drawing on live autonomous network deployments, join us as we explore the gap between ambition and execution, and what operators must prioritize next to move from pockets of automation to scaled Level-4 autonomy.

11:00 - 11:15
Fireside chat: Inside the Dark NOC: From automation to lights-out operations

• What “Dark NOC” really means in practice 
• Sequencing Level-4 capabilities to move safely toward lights-out operations 
• Quantifiable efficiency gains, including workforce reduction across two provinces 
• The operating model, governance, and assurance mechanisms that underpin trust in autonomy 
• Lessons learned that other operators can apply too 

11:15 - 11:30
Presentation: Turning autonomous network ambition into operational reality 

• Identifying critical gaps that operators are encountering as they move from isolated automation to scaled Level-4 autonomy 
• Lessons from live operator collaborations on what actually accelerates progress, and what creates friction 
• Why data readiness, operating models, and decision governance are now bigger blockers than technology 
• Identifying the hard trade-offs the industry needs to confront to move autonomy forward over the next 12–24 months  

11:30 - 12:00
Open exchange: Autonomous networks at scale: What should operators be prioritizing right now? 
As more operators pursue Level-4 autonomy, consensus is still forming on how the industry should get there. Through this exchange, gain a clearer sense of where the industry is aligned, where it isn’t, where CSPs agree and disagree, and what practical steps operators should be taking next to move from ambition to execution. 

• Is the Dark NOC the right north star for all operators — or only some? 
• Where should investment be prioritised today: orchestration, assurance, AI/ML, or operating model change? 
• How far can TM Forum standards and Open APIs realistically accelerate autonomy at scale? 
• What skills, roles, and decision rights must change as human-in-the-loop dependency reduces? 
• How can operators avoid fragmentation as autonomy matures across domains and vendors? 

12:00
Close of session

Timings are provisional only and may be subject to change.