ORAN Development Corporation (ODC) has raised $45 million in a Series A funding round led by a group of global technology firms and telecom operators, as the company seeks to scale what it describes as the first AI-native, open-architecture platform integrating communication, sensing and edge intelligence.
The round drew participation from Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco, Nokia and NVIDIA, alongside telecom operators including AT&T, MTN Group and Telecom Italia. The syndicate also includes Phoenix Venture Partners and prior investors linked to Cerberus Capital Management.
The capital will support deployment of ODC’s Odyssey RAN platform, a U.S.-based radio access network stack designed to merge wireless connectivity with artificial intelligence processing at the edge. The company said it is already working with global customers and expects to expand commercial engagements through 2026.
ODC is positioning its platform as a “Distributed Compute Grid,” aimed at turning telecom infrastructure into a network of AI processing hubs. By integrating NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN computing platform, the system is designed to enable real-time data processing, autonomous network responses and applications such as robotics and generative AI at the network edge.
“The industry is moving toward software-defined, AI-native telecom networks, which will be essential for the Physical AI era,” said Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom at NVIDIA. “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”.
Masum Mir, SVP and GM, Cisco Provider Mobility, said: “As AI intelligence and decision-making moves to the edge, the mobile network becomes the central fabric of the digital economy. 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.”
The participation of operators across multiple regions underscores the growing interest in integrating AI capabilities into telecom infrastructure, particularly as networks evolve toward 6G and edge computing becomes more central to data processing.
“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,” said Pallavi Mahajan, Chief Technology and AI Officer at Nokia. “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.”
Mazen Mroue, CEO of MTN Digital Infrastructure, highlighted potential applications in emerging markets. “For Africa, AI-RAN represents a leapfrog opportunity to deliver world-class intelligence from our largest cities to our most remote rural villages. By partnering with ODC, we are taking a leadership role in enabling advanced, precision-driven digital solutions across industry landscape in Africa,” 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.”
Leonardo Capdeville, Chief Technology Officer at Telecom Italia, said: “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.”
For Booz Allen Hamilton, the investment reflects national security considerations tied to AI infrastructure.
“Maintaining technological superiority in a complex global environment requires a fundamental shift from single-use systems to an interconnected, high-velocity infrastructure fabric,” said Bill Vass, Chief Technology Officer at Booz Allen. “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.”
The announcement comes amid increasing convergence between telecommunications and artificial intelligence, with companies racing to adapt networks for higher data demands and autonomous systems.
“We are on our way to a new era of Artificial Super Intelligence where robotics will revolutionize every industry on Earth,” said Ryuji Wakikawa, Vice President and Head of the Research Institute of Advanced Technology at SoftBank Corp..
“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. We have been working tirelessly to nurture a global ecosystem where ASI is delivered to society on a simple, accessible and trustworthy platform. The emergence of AI-native players like ODC is a powerful validation of this vision and the path toward ASI.”
ODC Chairman Shaygan Kheradpir said the funding will accelerate deployment and partnerships.
“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,” said Dr. Kheradpir.
“This is more than a technical deployment; it is a technological odyssey to build a U.S.-based nervous system of the physical world. 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.”
