At MWC 2024, Intel unveiled its next-gen Xeon processor (code-named Granite Rapids) for vRAN applications and its its next-gen Intel processor (code-named Sierra Forest) for 5G cores. The company also introduced a modular and open software platform that enables enterprises to build, deploy, run, manage and scale edge and AI solutions on standard hardware
Highlights
- Granite Rapids-D, featuring the latest generation of P-cores, promises significant gains in performance and power efficiency utilizing improved Intel AVX for vRAN and integrated Intel vRAN Boost acceleration alongside other architectural and feature enhancements. Silicon is currently sampling. Samsung has demonstrated a first-call at their research and development lab in Suwon, South Korea. Ericsson has also demonstrated a first-call validation in the Ericsson-Intel joint lab in Santa Clara, California. Intel is also working with Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Lenovo, Red Hat, Wind River and other leading ecosystem partners to ensure market readiness. Granite Rapids-D is planned to launch in 2025, following the launch of Granite Rapids server CPUs in 2024.
- Sierra Forest, which will launch later this year, brings up to 288 Efficient-cores (E-cores) on a single chip. It is well-suited for 5G core workloads to advance network core performance and power savings. By utilizing Intel’s latest E-core technology, operators will recognize greater energy and cost savings, driving to a 2.7x performance per rack improvement1 and industry-leading performance per rack for 5G core workloads.
- Intel Infrastructure Power Manager, which enables operators to take advantage of the built-in telemetry of Intel Xeon processors to reduce CPU power by an average of 30%, is gaining market traction. Casa Systems, NEC, Nokia, and Samsung are planning to deliver in 2024.
“Intel is delivering innovations for our partners and their customers across network, edge and enterprises to modernize their networks, monetize new services at the edge, and bring AI everywhere,” said Sachin Katti, senior vice president and general manager of the Network and Edge Group at Intel. “Intel’s network- and edge-optimized SOC strategy uniquely integrates general purpose compute and acceleration for networking, AI and vRAN workloads, and we are announcing market-leading next generation products for 5G core with Sierra Forest and 5G vRAN with Granite Rapids-D.”