MWC 2024: Intel Addresses Operators’ Demands for Energy-Efficiency Network

Intel has disclosed two major updates to drive footprint, power and total cost of ownership (TCO) savings across 5G core networks to answer mobile network operators’ demands for energy-efficient scaling.
Intel Infrastructure Power Manager software

This will include the preview of its Intel Xeon next-gen processors, code-named Sierra Forest, with up to 288 Efficient-cores (E-cores), and the commercial availability of the Intel Infrastructure Power Manager (IPM) software for 5G core, Intel said in a news statement.

“Communication service providers require greater infrastructure efficiency as 5G core networks continue to build out. With the majority of 5G core networks deployed on Intel Xeon processors today, Intel is uniquely positioned to address these efficiency challenges,”Alex Quach, Intel vice president and general manager of Wireline and Core Network Division, said.

“By introducing new Efficient-cores to our roadmap and with the commercial adoption of our Intel Infrastructure Power Manager software, service providers can slash TCO while achieving unmatched performance and power savings across their networks,” Alex Quach said.

Why It Matters: Energy consumption and reduction of the infrastructure footprint remain top challenges that network operators face in building out their wireless 5G core network.

Intel Xeon processor roadmap is expanding to include E-core processors. E-cores will provide network operators with processors optimized for energy and TCO savings. Intel Xeon next-gen processors, code-named Sierra Forest, launching later this year will offer up to 288 cores and help operators recognize a 2.7x performance per rack improvement – an industry leading performance per rack for 5G Core workloads.

The new processors will allow network operators to increase performance per rack, virtual CPUs (vCPUs) and performance per watt without significant changes to application software. Intel is working with operators and 5G core software suppliers to deploy the new processors and Intel Infrastructure Power Manager software.

Intel Xeon processors are the most widely deployed server CPUs. Backed by an extensive ecosystem of innovative partners, Intel’s technological advancements and collaborations utilizing E-cores will help unleash proven power savings for a more sustainable future.

BT

BT Group, the UK’s largest provider of fixed-line broadband and mobile services, says energy efficiency is a key priority. Collaboration with Intel reaps benefits in this area, and the prospects of the latest Xeon processor (Sierra Forest) and Intel Infrastructure Power Manager will significantly accelerate BT Group’s path to sustainability.

Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies delivers servers in the telco industry by collaborating with Intel and optimizing its servers to meet the demands of operators around the world.

Ericsson

Ericsson will have presentations showcasing Intel Xeon Next-Gen processors running on Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core and Ericsson Cloud Infrastructure. Results show a 3.2x performance improvement and over 40 percent reduction in energy consumption.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Intel are working together to maximize compute power efficiency and performance for 5G infrastructure on Xeon next-gen processors, code-named Sierra Forest.

KDDI

Power efficiency and core count are key indicators for KDDI when building 5G networks. The power savings and performance per watt improvement of the future Xeon processor (codenamed Sierra Forest) is impressive.

SK Telecom

SK Telecom is evaluating the Intel Xeon processor (codenamed Sierra Forest) and Intel Infrastructure Power Manager for 5G Core to accelerate their sustainability goals. Tests showcase breakthrough improvements in performance per watt for their next generation 5G Core network deployments.

Telstra

Telstra, in collaboration with Intel, is working to perform network evaluations of the Intel Xeon Next Gen processor (codenamed Sierra Forest) to deliver the world’s most energy-efficient, performant and sustainable 5G core network.

About Intel Infrastructure Power Manager

Launched last year at MWC 2023, the Intel Infrastructure Power Manager software for 5G core proved how operators can take advantage of the built-in telemetry of Intel Xeon processors and reduce CPU power usage without compromising key performance metrics including throughput, latency and packet drop. The software can be installed on existing and future Xeon-based network infrastructure.

About Reaching Net Zero Emissions

Energy consumption amounts to 20 percent to 40 percent of network operating expenses. It is critical for communication service providers (CoSPs) to holistically optimize end-to-end power utilization and the overall sustainability of their 5G networks. Integrating Intel Infrastructure Power Manager software into their 5G core software offerings allows operators to accelerate their sustainability goals and offset carbon dioxide emissions.

Casa Systems will feature a demo with Dell Technologies and Telenor at MWC showcasing up to 50 percent power savings with Intel Infrastructure Power Manager running on 4th Gen Intel Xeon processors. Casa’s 5G core integrated with Intel IPM is now commercially available.

NEC ensures the energy efficiency of UPF by using Intel Infrastructure Power Manager, enabling the offset of increasing power consumption for carbon neutrality. This achievement helps improve the performance of mobile network traffic processing by leaps and bounds, as well as contribute to lower power consumption and costs.

Nokia has a collaboration with Intel, which includes delivering compelling solutions for energy-efficient and sustainable core network infrastructure. With integrated Intel IPM software for 5G core, Nokia has validated a 40 percent reduction in CPU power levels with zero packet loss when testing 5G user and control plane functions running on HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen 11 servers featuring Intel Xeon processors.

Nokia’s results with IPM sit on top of any generation-to-generation energy efficiency improvements that come with Intel’s Xeon processors. Nokia will provide the first commercially available 5G core stack based on this capability in 2024.

Orange

Orange is collaborating with Intel and ecosystem partners like Nokia to significantly reduce the runtime power consumption of its network function infrastructure. By leveraging the Intel Infrastructure Power Management in the network and by collaborating on initiatives like the #Sylva project, the path to increased energy efficiency and lower operating costs is accelerating.

Samsung partnered with SK Telecom to launch a lab trial featuring Intel IPM software for user plane. Current lab trials are measuring over 27 percent CPU power savings without compromising throughput, latency or packet drop.

SK Telecom projects energy savings may exceed $10 million while accelerating progress toward net-zero targets by offsetting thousands of metric tons of carbon emissions. Samsung indicates that its 5G Core software utilizing Intel’s new processors will become commercially available in 2H 2024.

ZTE collaborated with Intel to assist operators to drive down power costs and total cost of ownership of network infrastructure. By using the Intel Infrastructure Power Manager integrated with the ZTE 5G Common Core Solution, operators will gain the performance and efficiency to meet their requirements.

Baburajan Kizhakedath

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