Intel – at the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona – said its Xeon 6 is transforming telecom operations by enhancing network efficiency, AI acceleration, and sustainability.
The SoC architecture of Intel Xeon 6 delivers up to 2.4x more RAN capacity and 70 percent better performance-per-watt compared to previous generations, allowing operators to modernize infrastructure with fewer servers, reducing costs and improving total cost of ownership (TCO).
Integrated AI acceleration boosts RAN performance by up to 3.2x, eliminating the need for separate AI accelerators. With eight integrated Ethernet ports and throughput of up to 200 Gbps, it ensures high-capacity connectivity for operators.
Intel is driving the next wave of vRAN and open RAN innovation, with significant enthusiasm from leading telecom operators:
Vodafone’s first OpenRAN deployments are demonstrating the competitiveness of networks built on Intel Xeon versus advanced legacy radio access networks (RAN).
AT&T is teaming up with Ericsson and Intel to build the world’s most open, programmable and reliable RAN network6.
This year, AT&T will begin using Intel’s Xeon 6 SoC, a high-capacity, programmable virtual RAN hardware platform, to enable ongoing AI advancements through seamless software updates.
Samsung leverages Xeon 6 to enhance performance and energy efficiency, accelerating AI integration across RAN and supporting its TCO and AI objectives.
Verizon has over 40 percent of its nationwide 5G RAN footprint virtualized, in addition to its entire 5G core and edge.
Verizon is developing the next-gen high-compute-density vRAN server, based on Intel Xeon 6, to double RAN compute capacity and enable greater energy efficiency and multitenancy, and a lower TCO.
Ericsson is industrializing Open RAN and AI RAN innovations with Xeon 6 SoC and has achieved its first Cloud RAN call on Xeon 6, powered by Dell servers.
Operators including Rakuten Mobile, Reliance Jio, SK Telecom and TELUS are advancing 5G adoption and transforming network infrastructure using Intel Xeon processors for smarter, more flexible and energy-efficient networks.
Security is a priority, with Intel Xeon 6 enabling zero-trust connections across edge-to-cloud ecosystems. Major telecom operators, including Vodafone, AT&T, Samsung, and Verizon, are leveraging Xeon 6 for Open RAN deployments, virtualized RAN, and AI-driven network optimization. The processor’s media transcode accelerator improves video streaming efficiency by up to 14.25x, making live sports, gaming, and auctions more immersive while reducing power consumption.
Ericsson’s software optimizations have produced a 3.8x improvement in performance-per-watt7 versus current CoSPs’ deployed configurations.
Nokia has leveraged Intel Xeon 6 processors to deliver a 60 percent reduction in run-time power consumption for its 5G Packet Core solution.
Samsung’s 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.
Additionally, Intel’s Ethernet E830 and E610 families enhance vRAN performance with up to 200 Gbps bandwidth and real-time workload optimization. These advancements position Intel Xeon 6 as a critical enabler of AI-powered, energy-efficient, and high-performance telecom networks.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
