MTN Group has joined a USD 45 million Series A funding round in ORAN Development Corporation (ODC), a United States-based company building what it describes as the first artificial intelligence (AI)-native, open-architecture radio access network platform, with the investment reflecting the continent’s growing push toward next-generation network infrastructure.
The round, announced on March 26, 2026, was led by a global syndicate that included Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco, Nokia, and NVIDIA, alongside telecoms operators AT&T, MTN Group, and Telecom Italia. Phoenix Venture Partners and prior investors linked to Cerberus Capital Management also participated.
ODC will use the capital to accelerate commercial deployment of its Odyssey Radio Access Network (RAN) platform, a software stack that integrates wireless connectivity with AI processing at the network edge. The company describes its approach as a Distributed Compute Grid, aimed at transforming telecom infrastructure into a network of AI processing hubs capable of supporting applications ranging from industrial robotics to autonomous systems and generative AI.
For Africa, the investment carries particular significance. Mazen Mroue, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Digital Infrastructure, said AI-RAN represents a leapfrog opportunity to deliver world-class intelligence from large cities to remote rural villages across the continent. “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 said.
Nokia’s Chief Technology and AI Officer, Pallavi Mahajan, said the investment reflects the direction the industry is heading, toward more software-driven, AI-ready platforms that can support both 5G and 6G networks. Cisco’s Senior Vice President and General Manager for Provider Mobility, Masum Mir, said AI decision-making moving to the edge makes the mobile network the central fabric of the digital economy.
NVIDIA Senior Vice President of Telecom, Ronnie Vasishta, said ODC’s platform is turning today’s 5G networks into a distributed AI computing fabric at the wireless edge and creating a pathway toward 6G.
ODC Chairman Shaygan Kheradpir said the funding will enable the company to scale its engagement with global partners and accelerate commercial deployments throughout 2026.
MTN Group, which operates across 16 African markets and has been deepening its AI and digital infrastructure investments, earlier this year committed USD 1.1 billion in capital expenditure to Ghana over the next three years, targeting data centres, network expansion, and digital skills development. MTN Group’s participation in ODC’s Series A extends that strategy to the infrastructure layer underpinning next-generation AI-native networks.
Source : www.newsghana.com.gh
