Transforming Mobile Core Networks with Dell and Intel

Core Networks route, manage, and secure the data streams and voice traffic for mobile subscribers and IoT applications. For Communication Service Providers (CSPs), the reliability, speed, and scalability of the Core Network are critical factors to consider. That's why, historically, CSPs have taken a cautious, long-cycle approach to refreshing server hardware - prioritizing stability and longevity.

But the ground is shifting. A new wave of server platforms powered by next-generation CPUs offers dramatic gains in performance, energy efficiency, and operational agility. These are not incremental improvements; they're transformational. For CSPs, the implications are far-reaching: enhanced scalability, decreased footprint, and notably lower power and cooling costs.

In this blog, we'll explore why now is the right time to challenge old assumptions about hardware refresh cycles - and how modern server infrastructure can unlock new value across the Mobile Core Network.

The leap forward: Dell PowerEdge servers powered by Intel Xeon 6 for Mobile Core

The pace of innovation in server technology is redefining what's possible in Mobile Core infrastructure. A standout example is Dell's PowerEdge R670 which is powered by Intel Xeon 6, codenamed "Sierra Forest" CPU. Purpose-built for modern, cloud-native workloads, these platforms are redefining the traditional server upgrade approach.

Where CSPs once prioritized extending server life to protect capital investments, today's dramatic gains in CPU core density and performance-per-watt make a compelling counterargument. Upgrading to newer platforms can deliver immediate cost savings, making hardware refreshes not just viable, but strategically smart.

Key Benefits for CSPs:

• Optimized for Performance and Energy Efficiency:

Modern mobile core workloads are increasingly built on cloud-native, micro-services -based architectures, demanding greater data throughput, signaling capacity, and scalability. These functions typically scale horizontally and run in multi-instance deployments, making high CPU core density a critical requirement. Intel's Xeon 6 has introduced 144 E-cores per CPU, allowing CSPs to consolidate more network functions per server. This boosts operational efficiency and ensures predictable performance under dynamic workloads.

• Streamlined Cooling and Energy Management: With built-in technologies like dynamic power capping, real-time telemetry, and Intel Infrastructure Power Manager, CSPs gain granular control over energy consumption. This unlocks both lower operating costs and improved reliability, while reducing thermal output across dense compute environments. In addition, these Dell PowerEdge server platforms are EPEAT® and ENERGY STAR® certified, with materials and life-cycle designs that align with corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals and evolving regulatory requirements.
  • Higher Core Density: Modern 1U and 2U servers now pack unprecedented compute power into smaller footprints. This consolidation enables CSPs to free up valuable rack space, reduce cooling demand, and scale services without expanding physical infrastructure - ideal for centralized data centers, and more space-constrained regional/edge data centers.
  • Proven in Practice: Industry leaders Ericsson and Intel have demonstrated substantial improvements in energy efficiency, performance, and operational manageability when deploying the latest generation of Dell PowerEdge servers. In a rigorous test conducted in February 2025, a full Packet Core workload was evaluated using the new Dell PowerEdge R670, equipped with Intel's 144-core Xeon 6 CPU, and compared directly to a previous-generation Dell PowerEdge R640 running an Intel 2nd Gen Xeon 26-core CPU. The results showed exceptional advancements: the R670 configuration enabled a 3.5-fold reduction in the number of servers required to achieve equivalent Packet Core capacity and performance.Insights from Ericsson's dual mode 5G Core demonstrate high performance with reduced energy consumption, as shared during MWC25.

Power efficiency that transforms the economics of the Core Network

Energy consumption is one of the largest operational costs in mobile networks and one of the clearest areas where next-generation server platforms can deliver immediate value. According to the Ericsson and Intel demonstration, performance per watt improvements range from 3.8x to 5x over previous-generation hardware, depending on CPU utilization levels. These modern servers enable Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to significantly reduce power consumption while simultaneously boosting capacity.

To put this into perspective, consider a simplified 3-year Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) scenario based on a deployment of 100 servers running Core Network workloads. The comparative number on the table below comes from Dell LiveOptics tool, and it uses standard Server-side Java (ssj Ops) workloads to do the comparisons. These are approximate numbers and historically are quite close when tested with real workloads from ISVs.

3-year TCO omparison: Dell PowerEdge R670 (144 E-core CPU) vs. R640 (26 core CPU)

Power savings are considered with an 8% inflation in energy cost yearly.

Beyond electricity: Additional TCO benefits

The savings extend far beyond the server energy bill.

• Cooling Efficiency: Lower power leads to less heat generation, reducing the demand for cooling systems. In many cases, this translates to 20 - 40% lower cooling costs, further amplifying operational savings.
• Smaller Footprint: Thanks to increased computing density, fewer racks are needed to deliver the same or greater capacity. This frees valuable data center space and can delay or even eliminate the need for physical expansion. With reduced rack space requirements, there will be savings in rental costs, which are a considerable portion of the total CSP's OPEX.
• Reduced Equipment and Maintenance Overhead: With greater performance per server, CSPs can achieve the same workload capacity with fewer physical systems. This reduces hardware acquisition costs, simplifies maintenance, and cuts down on networking and cabling complexity.
• Sustainability and ESG Impact: Lower energy consumption directly contributes to CSPs' carbon reduction and sustainability goals and supports compliance with regulatory mandates around energy efficiency and reporting.

Conclusion: Cost-efficient scale for the modern Core Network

For Mobile Core Networks, the efficiency advancements delivered by next-generation platforms like the Dell PowerEdge servers powered by the Intel Xeon 6 E-Core CPUs are truly transformational rather than incremental. When deployed across hundreds or thousands of nodes, the power and computing processing density improvements enable dramatic reductions in energy consumption and hardware footprint. The power savings alone can recoup a substantial portion of the initial server refresh investment in just a few years. In addition, enhanced cooling, optimized space utilization, and streamlined operations collectively drive TCO benefits that are too significant to overlook, delivering a compelling case for adopting this platform in Core Network environments.

For more info on how Dell Technologies can support CSPs in their Core Network journey please visit Cloud Core Network Services | Dell USA