MWC 2025: Intel unveils critical network infrastructure with Xeon 6

Intel reveals innovations in silicon to power next-generation networks with AI

AD HIGHLIGHTS 

• Intel® Xeon® 6 system-on-chip (SoC) with built-in AI delivers up to 2.4x more radio access network (RAN) capacity and up to 70% better performance per watt compared to previous generations. 

• Built-in AI acceleration improves AI performance in RAN by up to 3.2x over previous generations³. 

• Collaboration with partners on 5G solutions accelerates adoption of Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with Efficient-cores (E-cores) across the ecosystem. 

• Independent validations for 5G core workloads confirm improvements in performance per rack, lower power consumption and greater energy efficiency.

Barcelona, ​​Spain – March 3, 2025. The telecommunications industry is in the midst of a significant transformation with the advent of artificial intelligence and 5G technology, redefining networks and connectivity. While operators look to modernize their infrastructure, they face challenges such as high capital costs, security concerns, and integration with legacy systems. At MWC 2025, Intel, together with more than 50 partners and customers, will showcase innovative solutions that deliver high performance and efficiency, with built-in AI integration, eliminating the need for expensive additional hardware and optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO). 

“By leveraging cloud technologies and fostering close collaboration with our partners, we are helping operators virtualize both the 5G core and radio access networks, proving that the most demanding, mission-critical workloads can run efficiently on general-purpose silicon,” said Sachin Katti, senior vice president and general manager, Network and Edge Group, Intel Corporation. “Through our Xeon 6 processors, we are powering the future of AI-enabled network modernization.” 

Network transformation and acceleration with AI 

Nearly all commercial virtualized radio access network (vRAN) deployments are powered by Intel Xeon processors. Now, the new Xeon 6 SoC, purpose-built for edge and network applications, sets a new benchmark for performance-per-watt. By integrating AI acceleration with Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) and Intel® Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX), the SoC improves RAN AI performance by up to 3.2x over previous generations⁴, eliminating the need for additional accelerators. And with eight integrated Ethernet ports and total capacity of up to 200Gbps, the Intel Xeon 6 SoC provides robust connectivity. 

This combination of optimized architecture and increased capacity enables operators to dramatically reduce their server footprint, making it easier to deploy higher capacity with fewer servers by consolidating multiple open vRAN sites onto a single infrastructure, optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO). The Intel Xeon 6 SoC also features the industry’s first integrated media transcode accelerator, Intel® Media Transcode Accelerator, which delivers up to 14.25x higher performance-per-watt in video transcoding, enabling video service providers to deliver near real-time experiences for live sports, gaming, and auctions while significantly reducing power consumption.

Comprehensive security for modern networks 

As data generation at the network edge accelerates, security remains a key focus. The Intel Xeon 6 SoC addresses this challenge with advanced security features, enabling zero-trust connections across the edge-to-cloud ecosystem. 

The Impact of Intel's Ecosystem with Partners and Customers 

Intel is leading the next wave of innovation in vRAN and open RAN, backed by major telecom operators: 

• The first OpenRAN deployments of Vodafone are demonstrating the competitiveness of Intel Xeon-based networks against advanced legacy radio access networks (RANs). 

• AT&T Is associated with Ericsson e Intel to build the world's most open, programmable and reliable RAN network. This year, AT&T will begin using the Intel Xeon 6 SoC, a high-capacity programmable vRAN hardware platform, to drive AI advancements through non-disruptive software upgrades. 

• Samsung take advantage of Xeon 6 to improve performance and energy efficiency, accelerating AI integration into RAN and supporting your TCO and AI objectives. 

• Verizon has virtualized more than 40% of its nationwide 5G RAN infrastructure, in addition to its entire 5G core and edge. The company is developing a next-generation, high-density computing vRAN server, based on Intel Xeon 6, to double RAN computing capacity, improve energy efficiency and multi-tenancy, and reduce TCO. 

• Ericsson is industrializing innovations in Open RAN and AI RAN with Xeon 6 SoC and has achieved his first call in Cloud RAN with Xeon 6, using servers Dell. 

• Operators such as Rakuten Mobile, Reliance Jio, SK Telecom and TELUS are driving 5G adoption and transforming network infrastructure with processors Intel Xeon, creating smarter, more flexible and energy-efficient networks. 

Towards a more sustainable future with Intel Xeon 6 

Since its launch in 2024, Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with E-cores Intel® Xeon® 5-based solutions have been widely adopted by 6G solution providers and telecom operators. The addition of Intel® Infrastructure Power Manager (IPM) software improves energy efficiency and accelerates time to market for customers looking to optimize their infrastructure, reduce power consumption, and minimize hardware footprint without compromising performance. Partners are actively adopting Xeon XNUMX-based solutions, optimizing energy efficiency and delivering industry-leading performance. 

Sustainability success stories with partners include: 

• Software optimizations of Ericsson They have achieved a 3.8x improvement in performance per watt compared to current configurations deployed by CoSPs. 

• Nokia has leveraged Intel Xeon 6 processors to reduce runtime power consumption of its 60G Packet Core solution by 5%. 

• The next-generation Cloud Native Core from Samsung, scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2025, will incorporate Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores, achieving 3.2 times more performance and density. 

Ethernet Innovations for Modern Networks 

Intel just introduced Two new families of discrete Ethernet controllers and network adapters: E830 and E610 product lines. The Intel® Ethernet E830 family supports up to 200Gb of bandwidth and includes accurate timing for real-time vRAN workloads, while the Intel® Ethernet E610 family offers 10GBASE-T connectivity, ideal for low-power control plane networks.   

Join Intel and its global ecosystem of partners and customers in the MWC 2025 to explore the transformative power of the Xeon 6 family, featuring RAN advancements, media and edge advancements, security innovations, enterprise services, and AI-powered commercial PC solutions.