MTN Group headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The US-based Open RAN Development Company (ODC), headquartered in Northern Virginia, has formed a strategic partnership with MTN Group, Africa's largest telecoms company, to develop and test new Open RAN (ORAN) technologies tailored to the unique needs of African networks.

MTN revealed the project details today, stating that the collaboration supports its mission of providing affordable, high-quality telecom services across the continent, with advanced Open RAN architectures enabling increased network flexibility.

The Johannesburg-based telecoms firm serves over 20 African and Middle Eastern markets, connecting over 280 million people.

MTN asserts it wants to lead digital solutions for Africa's progress; hence it has been in the forefront of implementing modern technologies to overcome connectivity issues and fulfil the unique needs of its different markets.

To this end, ODC and MTN Group are launching a joint lab to test ORAN solutions, which the parties say will improve network agility, scalability, and efficiency.

As part of this initiative, the two companies will conduct lab and field trials, ensuring optimised performance and seamless integration into MTN Group’s existing network infrastructure.

MTN Group says it will also guide ODC in optimising ORAN software and platform development with artificial intelligence to streamline operational expenditure across the network.

The partnership will also focus on research and development in 6G and non-terrestrial communications, incorporating these advancements into ODC’s ORAN stack, according to MTN

"Open RAN represents a transformative approach to how we design and operate our infrastructure—enhancing flexibility, driving cost efficiencies, and paving the way for next-generation technologies," said Amith Maharaj, MTN Group network design and planning executive. "Through our collaboration with ODC, we are unlocking new possibilities to expand our reach, improve service quality, and empower the communities and businesses we serve."

Matthew Johnson, global head of ODC, expressed optimism about the cooperation, adding, "Our collaboration with MTN Group focusses ODC directly on MTN's unique network needs, enhancing efficiencies while supporting the evolution of next-generation capabilities, silicon, and Artificial Intelligence."