Intel has unveiled its new Xeon 6 system-on-chip (SoC) at MWC 2025, showcasing significant improvements in network infrastructure and AI capabilities. The new processor delivers up to 2.4x more radio access network (RAN) capacity and 70% better performance-per-watt compared to previous generations.
Key features include integrated AI acceleration boosting AI RAN performance by up to 3.2x, eight integrated Ethernet ports with throughput up to 200 Gbps, and Intel Media Transcode Accelerator delivering 14.25x performance-per-watt gain for video transcoding.
Major telecom operators including Vodafone, AT&T, Samsung, and Verizon are adopting the technology. Verizon has virtualized over 40% of its nationwide 5G RAN footprint, while partners like Ericsson have achieved significant efficiency improvements, including a 3.8x improvement in performance-per-watt.
Intel ha presentato il suo nuovo Xeon 6 system-on-chip (SoC) al MWC 2025, mostrando miglioramenti significativi nell’infrastruttura di rete e nelle capacità di intelligenza artificiale. Il nuovo processore offre fino a 2,4 volte maggiore capacità di rete di accesso radio (RAN) e un 70% di prestazioni per watt migliori rispetto alle generazioni precedenti.
Le caratteristiche principali includono l’accelerazione AI integrata che potenzia le prestazioni RAN AI fino a 3,2 volte, otto porte Ethernet integrate con una capacità di trasmissione fino a 200 Gbps, e l’Intel Media Transcode Accelerator che fornisce un guadagno di prestazioni per watt di 14,25 volte per la transcodifica video.
I principali operatori di telecomunicazioni, tra cui Vodafone, AT&T, Samsung e Verizon, stanno adottando questa tecnologia. Verizon ha virtualizzato oltre il 40% della sua rete 5G RAN a livello nazionale, mentre partner come Ericsson hanno ottenuto significativi miglioramenti in termini di efficienza, inclusi un 3,8 volte di miglioramento nelle prestazioni per watt.
Intel ha presentado su nuevo Xeon 6 system-on-chip (SoC) en el MWC 2025, mostrando mejoras significativas en la infraestructura de red y en las capacidades de inteligencia artificial. El nuevo procesador ofrece hasta 2.4 veces más capacidad de red de acceso por radio (RAN) y un 70% de mejor rendimiento por vatio en comparación con generaciones anteriores.
Las características clave incluyen una aceleración de IA integrada que mejora el rendimiento de RAN de IA hasta 3.2 veces, ocho puertos Ethernet integrados con un rendimiento de hasta 200 Gbps, y el Intel Media Transcode Accelerator que proporciona una ganancia de rendimiento por vatio de 14.25 veces para la transcodificación de video.
Principales operadores de telecomunicaciones, incluyendo Vodafone, AT&T, Samsung y Verizon, están adoptando esta tecnología. Verizon ha virtualizado más del 40% de su huella de RAN 5G a nivel nacional, mientras que socios como Ericsson han logrado mejoras significativas en eficiencia, incluyendo una mejora de 3.8 veces en el rendimiento por vatio.
인텔은 MWC 2025에서 새로운 제온 6 시스템 온 칩(SoC)을 발표하며 네트워크 인프라와 AI 기능에서 상당한 개선을 보여주었습니다. 새로운 프로세서는 이전 세대에 비해 2.4배 더 많은 무선 접근 네트워크(RAN) 용량과 70% 더 나은 와트당 성능을 제공합니다.
주요 기능으로는 AI RAN 성능을 최대 3.2배 향상시키는 통합 AI 가속, 최대 200 Gbps의 처리량을 가진 8개의 통합 이더넷 포트, 그리고 비디오 트랜스코딩을 위한 14.25배의 와트당 성능 향상을 제공하는 인텔 미디어 트랜스코드 가속기가 포함됩니다.
Vodafone, AT&T, Samsung, Verizon 등 주요 통신 사업자들이 이 기술을 채택하고 있습니다. Verizon은 전국 5G RAN 네트워크의 40% 이상을 가상화했으며, Ericsson과 같은 파트너들은 와트당 성능이 3.8배 향상되는 등 상당한 효율성 개선을 달성했습니다.
Intel a dévoilé son nouveau Xeon 6 system-on-chip (SoC) au MWC 2025, mettant en avant des améliorations significatives dans l’infrastructure réseau et les capacités d’intelligence artificielle. Le nouveau processeur offre jusqu’à 2,4 fois plus de capacité de réseau d’accès radio (RAN) et 70% de meilleures performances par watt par rapport aux générations précédentes.
Les caractéristiques clés incluent une accélération AI intégrée qui améliore les performances RAN AI jusqu’à 3,2 fois, huit ports Ethernet intégrés avec un débit allant jusqu’à 200 Gbps, et l’Intel Media Transcode Accelerator qui offre un gain de performance par watt de 14,25 fois pour la transcodification vidéo.
Des opérateurs de télécommunications majeurs tels que Vodafone, AT&T, Samsung et Verizon adoptent cette technologie. Verizon a virtualisé plus de 40% de son empreinte RAN 5G à l’échelle nationale, tandis que des partenaires comme Ericsson ont réalisé des améliorations significatives en matière d’efficacité, y compris une amélioration de 3,8 fois des performances par watt.
Intel hat auf dem MWC 2025 sein neues Xeon 6 System-on-Chip (SoC) vorgestellt und dabei bedeutende Verbesserungen in der Netzwerk-Infrastruktur und den KI-Fähigkeiten gezeigt. Der neue Prozessor bietet bis zu 2,4-mal mehr Kapazität im Funkzugangsnetz (RAN) und eine 70% bessere Leistung pro Watt im Vergleich zu vorherigen Generationen.
Zu den Hauptmerkmalen gehören die integrierte KI-Beschleunigung, die die KI-RAN-Leistung um bis zu 3,2-mal steigert, acht integrierte Ethernet-Ports mit einer Durchsatzrate von bis zu 200 Gbps und der Intel Media Transcode Accelerator, der eine 14,25-fache Leistungssteigerung pro Watt für die Video-Transkodierung bietet.
Wichtige Telekommunikationsanbieter wie Vodafone, AT&T, Samsung und Verizon übernehmen die Technologie. Verizon hat über 40% seiner landesweiten 5G-RAN-Abdeckung virtualisiert, während Partner wie Ericsson erhebliche Effizienzverbesserungen erzielt haben, einschließlich einer 3,8-fachen Verbesserung der Leistung pro Watt.
Positive
- 2.4x increase in RAN capacity
- 70% improvement in performance-per-watt
- 3.2x boost in AI RAN performance
- 14.25x performance-per-watt gain for video transcoding
- Major telecom adoption (Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon, Samsung)
- Integrated AI acceleration eliminates need for additional hardware
Negative
- High capital expenditures for operator infrastructure modernization
- Integration challenges with legacy systems
Insights
Intel’s Xeon 6 SoC announcement represents a significant advancement in the company’s network infrastructure strategy, positioning Intel to capitalize on the growing convergence of AI and 5G technologies. The 2.4x increase in RAN capacity and
The integrated AI acceleration capability is particularly noteworthy, as it eliminates the need for discrete accelerators while boosting AI RAN performance by 3.2x. This architectural approach gives Intel a competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving telecom infrastructure market by reducing both capital expenditure and operating costs for network operators.
What’s most significant from a business perspective is Intel’s deep ecosystem integration, with major global operators including AT&T, Vodafone, and Verizon already committed to deploying these solutions. AT&T’s announcement of implementing Xeon 6 SoC this year signals immediate market traction rather than speculative future adoption.
The testimonials from partners like Ericsson (3.8x improvement in performance-per-watt) and Nokia (
Intel’s Xeon 6 SoC represents a strategic pivot toward purpose-built silicon for specific high-growth verticals rather than general-purpose computing alone. By integrating dedicated accelerators (vRAN Boost, media transcoding) and network connectivity (8 integrated Ethernet ports with 200Gbps throughput) on the same die as the CPU cores, Intel is leveraging its manufacturing capabilities to create differentiated products that ARM-based competitors can’t easily match.
The market implications are substantial. Telecom infrastructure spending for 5G deployment continues to grow globally, and Intel is positioning itself as the foundation for virtualized networks. By enabling telecom operators to consolidate multi-server vRAN sites into single-server footprints, Intel addresses the critical TCO challenges that have previously slowed network virtualization.
The integrated Intel Media Transcode Accelerator—delivering 14.25x performance-per-watt gains for video transcoding—targets the explosive growth in edge video processing for applications like live sports and gaming. This capability creates additional revenue opportunities beyond traditional networking applications.
Most importantly, Intel’s strategy here demonstrates how the company is leveraging its manufacturing integration advantages at a time when disaggregated chip designs are becoming more common. By combining CPU, accelerators, and connectivity on a single die, Intel is creating products that can command premium pricing while delivering superior TCO for customers—a important step in rebuilding its competitive position in the data center market.
Intel unveils silicon innovation to drive AI-powered next-generation networks.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
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Intel® Xeon® 6 system-on-chip (SoC) with integrated AI delivers up to 2.4x more radio access network (RAN) capacity1 and up to
70% better performance-per-watt2 compared with previous generations. - Integrated AI acceleration boosts AI RAN performance by up to 3.2x over previous generations3.
- Deep collaboration with 5G core solution partners accelerates the adoption of Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with Efficient-cores (E-cores) across the ecosystem.
- Independent validations for 5G core workloads confirm 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 modernize infrastructure, challenges remain, such as high capital expenditures, security concerns and integration with legacy systems. At MWC 2025, Intel – alongside more than 50 partners and customers – will showcase groundbreaking solutions that deliver high capacity and high efficiency performance with built-in AI integration, eliminating the need for costly additional hardware and delivering optimized total cost of ownership (TCO).
Intel Xeon 6 processors deliver exceptional performance for the widest range of workloads and are engineered for efficiency and low total cost of ownership. On Feb. 24, 2025, Intel launched the Intel Xeon 6 SoCs with P-core processors – power-efficient, edge servers with Intel vRAN Boost and media acceleration, and networking built in. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
“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.”
Network Transformation and AI Acceleration
Nearly every commercial virtual radio access network deployment runs on Intel Xeon, and now the new Xeon 6 SoC, purpose-built for network and edge applications, is setting 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 boosts AI RAN performance by up to 3.2x over previous generations4 and redefines performance without the need for discrete accelerators. Moreover, 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.
More: Intel at MWC 2025 (Press Kit) | Intel Xeon 6 Processors (Press Kit)
This combination of optimized architecture and 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 delivering optimized TCO. The Intel Xeon 6 SoC also includes the industry’s first integrated media transcode accelerator, Intel® Media Transcode Accelerator, which delivers up to 14.25x performance-per-watt gain for video transcoding5, helping video service providers offer near-real-time experiences for live sports, gaming and auctions while significantly reducing power consumption.
Comprehensive Security for Modern Networks
As data generation surges at the network edge, security remains a critical focus. Intel Xeon 6 SoC addresses this with its leading-edge security features that enable more secure, zero-trust connections across the edge-to-cloud ecosystem.
The Impact of Intel’s Ecosystem with Partners and Customers
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.
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Verizon has over
40% 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.
Driving a More Sustainable Future with Intel Xeon 6
Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with E-cores, launched in 2024, are experiencing widespread adoption among 5G core solution vendors and telecom operators. The addition of Intel® Infrastructure Power Manager (IPM) software enhances energy efficiency and accelerates time-to-market for customers seeking to optimize infrastructure, reduce energy consumption and minimize hardware footprints while maintaining performance.
Partners are actively adopting Xeon 6-based solutions, helping optimize energy efficiency while delivering industry-leading performance. Partner sustainability success stories include:
- Ericsson’s software optimizations have produced a 3.8x improvement in performance-per-watt7 versus current CoSPs’ deployed configurations.
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Nokia has leveraged Intel Xeon 6 processors to deliver a
60% reduction in run-time power consumption for its 5G Packet Core solution8. - 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 density9.
Advancements in Ethernet for Modern Networks
Intel recently introduced two new families of discrete Ethernet controllers and network adapters: the E830 and E610 product lines. The Intel® Ethernet E830 family supports up to 200 Gb of bandwidth and includes precision time measurement for real-time vRAN workloads, while the Intel® Ethernet E610 family offers 10GBASE-T connectivity, ideal for power-efficient control plane networking.
Join Intel and its global ecosystem of partners and customers at MWC 2025 to explore the transformative power of the Xeon 6 family, featuring RAN breakthroughs, media and edge advancements, security innovations, enterprise services, and commercial AI PC solutions.
About Intel
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.
1 See [7ND21] at intel.com/processor claims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
2 See [7ND22] at intel.com/processor claims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
3 See [7ND34] at intel.com/processor claims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
4 See [7ND34] at intel.com/processor claims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
5 See [7ND32] at intel.com/processor claims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
6 AT&T to Accelerate Open and Interoperable Radio Access Networks (RAN) in
7 Testing by Ericsson as of February 2025, versus platform based on 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Processors. Results may vary.
8 Tested with Nokia CMM application as of February 2025, 3rd Gen Xeon 6338N vs. Xeon 6 6780E. Results may vary.
9 Testing by Samsung as of February 2025, 3rd Gen Xeon 6330N vs. Xeon 6 6780E. Results may vary.
Intel does not control or audit third party data. You should consult other sources to evaluate accuracy.
Performance varies by use, configuration and other factors. Learn more on the Performance Index site.
Performance results are based on testing as of dates shown in configurations and may not reflect all publicly available updates. See backup for configuration details. No product or component can be absolutely secure.
Your costs and results may vary.
Intel technologies may require enabled hardware, software or service activation.
© Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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Krista Lopardo
1-503-349-6855
krista.lopardo@intel.com
Source: Intel Corporation
FAQ
What performance improvements does Intel’s new Xeon 6 SoC offer for 5G networks?
The Xeon 6 SoC delivers 2.4x more RAN capacity, 70% better performance-per-watt, and 3.2x better AI RAN performance compared to previous generations.
How is Verizon implementing Intel’s INTC Xeon 6 technology in their 5G network?
Verizon has virtualized over 40% of its 5G RAN footprint and is developing next-gen servers using Xeon 6 to double RAN compute capacity and improve energy efficiency.
What energy efficiency improvements have Intel’s INTC partners achieved with Xeon 6?
Ericsson achieved 3.8x improvement in performance-per-watt, while Nokia reported 60% reduction in run-time power consumption for 5G Packet Core.
What networking capabilities does Intel’s INTC Xeon 6 SoC include?
The Xeon 6 SoC features eight integrated Ethernet ports with total throughput up to 200 Gbps and integrated media transcode acceleration.