ORAN Development Corporation (ODC), a US-based developer of AI-native radio access network technology, has raised $45 million in Series A funding from a syndicate that includes NVIDIA, Cisco, Nokia, AT&T, MTN, and Telecom Italia.
The round, announced on 27 March, also includes Booz Allen, Phoenix Venture Partners, and existing seed investor Cerberus Capital Management. The investment will fund the deployment of what ODC calls the first AI-native, open-architecture platform for mobile networks, built on NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer Pro.
What the technology does
ODC’s Odyssey platform is designed to transform mobile base stations from simple connectivity points into distributed AI compute hubs. Rather than just carrying data between devices and the core network, these sites would run AI workloads locally, enabling real-time decision-making at the network edge for applications such as autonomous systems, industrial sensing, and low-latency AI inference.
The approach, known as AI-RAN, integrates communication, sensing, and edge intelligence into a single software-defined platform. NVIDIA’s Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom, said the technology “is a key enabler of this shift, turning today’s 5G networks into a distributed AI computing fabric at the wireless edge.”
Why MTN is involved
MTN’s participation comes through its digital infrastructure arm as the operator pursues its Ambition 2030 strategy, which positions connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure as its three core platforms.
Mazen Mroue, CEO of MTN Digital Infrastructure, framed the investment as an opportunity for Africa to leapfrog in AI deployment. “AI-RAN represents a leapfrog opportunity to deliver world-class intelligence from our largest cities to our most remote rural villages,” Mroue said. “This isn’t just about connectivity; it’s about building the distributed AI compute foundation required to accelerate financial inclusion, industrial autonomy, and local innovation.”
ODC said it is already partnering with commercial customers and expects to scale deployments throughout 2026. The platform is designed to support the transition from 5G to 6G architectures.
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