Movandi, a pioneer in advanced RF and millimeter-wave (mmWave) infrastructure, has just secured $40 million in strategic funding to accelerate the deployment of next-generation connectivity across terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. The round was anchored by a $20M investment from ITHCA Group, Oman’s sovereign-backed technology investor, with co‑investment from Phaistos Investment Fund, VT Alliance, Murata, and existing backers including Cota Capital, Celesta Capital, DNX Ventures, and Sierra Ventures.
Under the leadership of co‑founders Maryam Rofougaran and Reza (Ahmadreza) Rofougaran, Movandi is charting a course beyond 5G mmWave. As Maryam puts it:
“We’re expanding beyond 5G into larger markets: satcom, fixed wireless, and AI‑driven connectivity… creating a bridge between Silicon Valley and the Middle East.”
The fresh capital will fund Movandi’s push into three key domains:
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), bridging last‑mile and remote connectivity gaps
Satellite communications (Satcom), bringing low-latency coverage beyond terrestrial reach
Next-generation RF systems for enhanced terrestrial wireless infrastructure
A critical pivot in this strategy is the shift into the Middle East: Movandi is opening an office in Muscat, Oman, tapping into ITHCA’s local network and aligning with the region’s Vision 2040 push toward deep tech expansion. Said Al Mandhari, CEO of ITHCA, frames the investment as more than capital—it’s a fusion of global engineering with regional ambition.
Movandi’s technology stack already includes chipsets, beamforming silicon, phased arrays, and smart repeater systems. The company’s credentials in commercial 5G deployments position it to roll forward with credibility as it branches into hybrid satellite‑terrestrial architectures.
Editorial Perspective & Market View
Movandi’s latest raise underscores a tectonic shift in how connectivity infrastructure is being conceptualized. The company is no longer just a 5G play—it’s aiming to be the network of networks, weaving together terrestrial, fixed wireless, and satellite layers into a unified fabric. In doing so, it seeks to preempt fragmentation in next-gen connectivity and to become a foundational building block for AI-intensive applications that demand ubiquitous, low-latency bandwidth.
The geographic bet is equally bold. With Oman as a strategic anchor, Movandi gains more than regional access—it gains legitimacy in the MENA region’s ambition to become a deep-tech hub. This dual Silicon Valley–Gulf positioning could help serve markets that straddle developed and frontier infrastructure needs. However, that also means navigating diverse regulatory regimes, spectrum constraints, and relative infancy in local network adoption.
From a pure execution standpoint, success will depend on integration—can Movandi convincingly mesh satellite and mmWave systems without creating disjointed handovers or mismatches in latency? If it can, the company may anchor itself in a rare slot: not just a 5G technology vendor, but an architect of global connectivity infrastructure for the AI era.
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