- Intel introduced the Xeon® 6 system-on-chip (SoC) at MWC ’25 (Mobile World Congress 2025).
- With integrated AI, it delivers up to 2.4x more radio access network (RAN) capacity, up to 70% better performance-per-watt and boosts AI RAN performance by up to 3.2x when compared with previous generations (results may vary).
- Developed with 5G core solution partners, who utilise and seek processors with E-cores (Efficient-cores).
- Independently validated: it offers increased rack performance, reduced power consumption and enhanced energy efficiency.
The telecommunications industry is undergoing a major transformation as AI and 5G technologies reshape networks and connectivity. While operators are eager to modernise infrastructure, challenges remain, such as high capital expenditures, security concerns and integration with legacy systems. At MWC 2025, Intel, with more than 50 of its partners and customers, showcased future solutions that deliver high capacity and high efficiency performance with built-in AI integration, eliminating the need for costly additional hardware.
Intel Xeon 6 SoCs are not new: launched in June 2024 the Sierra Forrest merged Xeon cores with E-cores into a single set of sockets. Fast Forward to September 2024, and Granite Rapids Intel Xeon 6 SoC was announced, aimed at cloud builders and hyperscalers. All Intel Xeon 6 processors are designed to be efficient and cost-effective. They are optimised for a wide range of workloads, including traditional machine learning, smaller GenAI models and GPU-accelerated workloads. What sets the latest Intel Xeon® 6 SoC apart is that it is purpose-built for network and edge applications, and it is setting a new benchmark for performance-per-watt.
With eight integrated Ethernet ports and a total throughput of up to 200 gigabits per second (Gbps), the Intel Xeon 6 SoC provides robust connectivity. This capacity gain means operators can dramatically reduce their server footprint, allowing them to deploy more capacity with fewer servers by enabling consolidation of multi-server open vRAN sites to a single-server footprint.
“By leveraging cloud technologies and fostering close collaborations with partners, we are helping operators virtualize both 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 of the Network and Edge Group at Intel Corporation. “Through our Xeon 6 processors, we are enabling the future of AI-powered network modernization.”
Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with E-cores, launched in 2024, are experiencing widespread adoption among 5G core solution vendors and telecom operators.
Partner sustainability success stories include:
- Ericsson’s software optimisations have produced a 3.8x improvement in performance-per-watt versus current CoSPs’ deployed configurations, according to Ericsson-produced results, as of February 2025, vs. platform based on 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Processors
- Nokia has leveraged Intel Xeon 6 processors to deliver a 60% reduction in run-time power consumption for its 5G Packet Core solution, as tested with Nokia CMM application as of February 2025, 3rd Gen Xeon 6338N vs. Xeon 6 6780E
- Samsung’s next-generation Cloud Native Core, expected in the second quarter of 2025, will feature Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores to achieve 3.2x better performance and density, according to Samsung testing, as of February 2025, 3rd Gen Xeon 6330N vs. Xeon 6 6780E.