What’s New
Intel and Nokia are expanding their long-standing and strategic collaboration to advance core network infrastructures with the deployment of Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with Efficient-cores (E-cores) in the Nokia NFVI v5.0 and Nokia Core Networks Applications. With breakthrough energy efficiency, capacity and scalability for 5G core workloads, this joint infrastructure initiative will provide Nokia customers with up to a 60% reduction in power consumption, a 60% smaller server footprint and a 150% performance boost compared to widely deployed previous-generation servers.
Why It Matters
This adoption highlights the telecom industry’s need for power-optimized, high-density infrastructure to meet modern 5G performance and sustainability demands.
For decades, Intel and Nokia have worked together to produce tangible innovation. By combining Intel Xeon 6 (specifically the Intel® Xeon® 6780E) with Intel Infrastructure Power Manager (IPM), Nokia Core Networks will enable:
- Load-aware and power-aware compute.
- Lower operational costs.
- Reduced carbon footprint.
- No compromise on network stability.
Nokia is already running successful cloud service provider trials with IPM, validating its applicability across multiple server generations and showcasing measurable energy savings. The Intel Xeon 6 processor platform and IPM support for the forthcoming Nokia Packet Core Application v25.7 are on track for availability later this year.
“The results from our joint IPM trials using Intel Xeon 6 with E-cores underscore how industry partnerships – like our long-standing collaboration with Intel – are essential to driving shared innovation and delivering scalable, energy-efficient solutions that enable more sustainable networks. The important energy efficiency gains demonstrated in these trials align closely with what operators need as they modernize their networks,” said Kal De, SVP of Products and Engineering, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.
The Small Print:
¹Tested by Nokia CMM application as of February 2025, 3rd Gen Intel Xeon 6338N vs. Intel Xeon 6 6780E. Results may vary. Intel does not control or audit third-party data. You should consult other sources to determine accuracy.