ORAN Development Corporation (ODC) has secured $45 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate deployment of its AI-native, open-architecture telecom platform designed to unify communication, sensing, and edge intelligence.
The funding round brought together a global syndicate of major technology and telecom players, including NVIDIA, Cisco, Nokia, Booz Allen Hamilton, AT&T, MTN Group, and Telecom Italia, alongside Phoenix Venture Partners and affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management.
The investment will support the rollout of ODC’s Odyssey RAN platform, an AI-native Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) system that aims to transform traditional telecom infrastructure into a distributed computing layer capable of powering next-generation artificial intelligence applications.
ALSO READ: SANLAM APPOINTS FIRST GROUP CHIEF AI OFFICER TO DRIVE INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION
ODC said the platform represents a shift from conventional connectivity models to intelligent, software-defined networks that integrate communication, sensing, and edge computing into a unified architecture. The company is already working with global customers and expects to scale commercial deployments throughout 2026.
At the core of its strategy is the development of a “Distributed Compute Grid,” designed to turn telecom cell sites into high-performance compute hubs. By integrating NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer Pro, ODC is enabling autonomous, AI-driven “sense-and-respond” capabilities at the network edge—supporting applications ranging from real-time generative AI to robotics and critical infrastructure protection.
Senior Vice President of Telecom at NVIDIA, Ronnie Vasishta, said the industry is undergoing a major shift. “The industry is moving toward software-defined, AI-native telecom networks, which will be essential for the Physical AI era,” he said.
“ODC’s AI-RAN stack is a key enabler of this shift, turning today’s 5G networks into a distributed AI computing fabric at the wireless edge. By leveraging the NVIDIA Aerial platform to unify high-performance 5G with sensing, ODC is helping to raise the innovation bar for AI-RAN and creating a strong on-ramp to 6G,” he added.
Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cisco Provider Mobility, Masum Mir, emphasised the growing importance of edge intelligence. “As AI intelligence and decision-making moves to the edge, the mobile network becomes the central fabric of the digital economy,” he said.
“We are excited to invest in ODC as AI-RAN has the potential to drive a critical infrastructure transformation, moving the industry beyond simple connectivity and towards simplified, secure and open platforms that can support AI workloads and unlock new services opportunities,” he added.
Chief Technology and AI Officer at Nokia, Pallavi Mahajan, said AI is placing new demands on network infrastructure. “AI is a fundamentally new workload that is reshaping network architecture—driving the need for software-driven platforms, intelligence at the edge, and continuous innovation,” she said.
“That shift is putting real pressure on infrastructure and requires architectural change across the network. ODC’s approach to AI-RAN reflects where the industry is heading, moving the RAN toward a more software-driven, AI-ready platform. Nokia’s investment reflects that direction and our focus on enabling AI-native networks across 5G and 6G,” she added.
From an African perspective, CEO of MTN Digital Infrastructure, Mazen Mroue, described the initiative as transformative. “For Africa, AI-RAN represents a leapfrog opportunity to deliver world-class intelligence from our largest cities to our most remote rural villages,” he 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, serving as a true force-for-good and supporting the development of Sovereign AI across the continent,” he added.
Chief Technology Officer at Telecom Italia, Leonardo Capdeville, highlighted the platform’s potential for advanced applications. “ODC is the platform that unlocks the power of AI-RAN, turning the access network into a seamless extension of AI, purpose-built for mission-critical applications that demand ultra-low-latency inference, from eVTOL control to advanced robotics and the intelligent systems that will shape our future,” he said.
Chief Technology Officer at Booz Allen, Bill Vass, linked the development to national security priorities. “Maintaining technological superiority in a complex global environment requires a fundamental shift from single-use systems to an interconnected, high-velocity infrastructure fabric,” he said.
“By integrating ODC’s AI-RAN architecture into our mission-critical solutions, we are accelerating the modern technology flywheel where communication, sensing, and edge compute converge. This unified ‘nervous system’ provides the resilient, software-defined foundation necessary to deploy Sovereign AI at speed and scale—protecting critical national infrastructure and ensuring our nation stays ahead of emerging threats,” he added.
Vice President at SoftBank Corp., Ryuji Wakikawa, said the development aligns with the evolution toward Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). “We are on our way to a new era of Artificial Super Intelligence where robotics will revolutionize every industry on Earth,” he said.
“ODC’s platform is a critical link in the autonomy stack. Their ability to provide low-latency command and control through existing infrastructure enables autonomous systems to scale globally. The emergence of AI-native players like ODC is a powerful validation of this vision and the path toward ASI,” he added.
Chairman of ODC, Dr Shaygan Kheradpir, said the funding marks a major milestone for the company’s growth. “The successful raise of our Series A allows us to scale our engagement with global partners who recognize that the wireless edge is the ultimate frontier for AI,” he said.
“This is more than a technical deployment; it is a technological odyssey to build a U.S.-based nervous system of the physical world,” he added.
“Our platform transforms the network from a communication pipe into a Distributed Compute Grid—a global network of Token Factories capable of everything from general AI inference to the real-time spatial sensing required for autonomous systems. We are now focused on ramping our engagements and accelerating the commercial deployment of this intelligent infrastructure throughout 2026.”
“From powering industrial robotics to protecting critical national infrastructure, ODC is enabling the fabric that makes the physical world intelligent and sovereign,” he concluded.
