TM Forum outlines telco path to Level 4 network autonomy

TM Forum said on May 19, 2026 that telecom operators are moving from partial network automation toward Level 4 autonomy by scaling point solutions into vendor-agnostic operations across whole networks.

TM Forum discussed the current state of network autonomy in an interview published by RCR Wireless on May 19, 2026. The interview was presented in two parts and focused on how telecom operators are progressing from manual processes and partial automation toward higher levels of autonomous network operations.

TM Forum said operators have already deployed point solutions in parts of their networks, but the next step is to scale those systems across broader operations. The interview described this as a move from isolated automation deployments to wall-to-wall autonomy that works across entire network environments.

TM Forum said a key requirement is vendor-agnostic deployment, meaning automation systems must work across equipment and software from different suppliers rather than in single-vendor silos. The interview focused on how to extend network autonomy across operations at scale, rather than limiting automation to specific functions or domains.