- Pro
288-core design targets efficiency gains across telecom and data centers
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Intel)
- Copy link
- X
- Threads
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter- Intel extends Xeon 6 roadmap with 18A-based processors targeting AI in telecom networks
- 288-core Clearwater Forest reduces rack power and improves performance per watt
- Testing shows 38% lower runtime rack power versus comparable Sierra Forest systems
At MWC 2026, Intel introduced its upcoming Clearwater Forest Xeon 6+ processors, built on the 18A process and aimed at edge AI and early 6G infrastructure.
The update adds a higher density option to the Xeon 6 lineup for network and data center deployments.
Clearwater Forest, which was first previewed in October 2025, follows the current Xeon 6 generation and is expected to arrive by 2027.
You may like-
AMD is taking the fight to Intel with its most powerful Epyc chips yet — Sorano packs in 84 Zen5 cores and could supercharge the next generation of mobile networks
-
Intel is finally back in the desktop workstation game - new Xeon 600 features Granite Rapids power, up to 86 cores, 4TB of memory
-
Intel launches new Core Ultra series 3 chips for laptops at CES 2026
AI in networks isn’t “CPU vs. GPU”
Intel is expanding Xeon 6 across radio access networks, or RAN, which connect devices like smartphones to the broader mobile network, as well as mobile core systems and edge sites.
The strategy keeps network functions, security workloads, enterprise services, and AI inference on standard server hardware.
Kevork Kechichian, executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s Data Center Group, said: “AI in networks isn’t “CPU vs. GPU” — it’s right compute for the workload”.
The idea is that not every AI task inside a telecom network requires a separate accelerator. In many cases, inference can run directly on Xeon processors depending on performance and power constraints.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.In the RAN, Xeon 6 SoC integrates Advanced Matrix Extensions and vRAN Boost, allowing inference workloads to run on the same server that handles virtualized network software. That can limit the need for extra hardware in certain deployments.
Rakuten Mobile is working with Intel to train and deploy AI models for low latency RAN workloads using Xeon 6 SoC. Vodafone has committed to adopting Xeon 6 SoCs for Open RAN and vRAN modernization projects across Europe.
Clearwater Forest, branded simply Xeon 6+, increases core density and shifts to Intel’s 18A process.
You may like-
AMD is taking the fight to Intel with its most powerful Epyc chips yet — Sorano packs in 84 Zen5 cores and could supercharge the next generation of mobile networks
-
Intel is finally back in the desktop workstation game - new Xeon 600 features Granite Rapids power, up to 86 cores, 4TB of memory
-
Intel launches new Core Ultra series 3 chips for laptops at CES 2026
In testing by Ericsson, a single 288-core Xeon 6990E+ Clearwater Forest processor reduced runtime rack power by 38 percent, delivered more than 60 percent better performance per watt, and improved overall performance by 30 percent compared with a dual socket 288-core Xeon 6780E Sierra Forest system.
Higher core counts and lower power consumption sit at the center of Intel’s pitch as AI workloads expand inside telecom infrastructure and networks move closer to early 6G development.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
TOPICS Intel AI 6G
Wayne WilliamsSocial Links NavigationEditorWayne Williams is a freelancer writing news for TechRadar Pro. He has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for 30 years. In that time he wrote for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a number of them too.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
AMD is taking the fight to Intel with its most powerful Epyc chips yet — Sorano packs in 84 Zen5 cores and could supercharge the next generation of mobile networks
Intel is finally back in the desktop workstation game - new Xeon 600 features Granite Rapids power, up to 86 cores, 4TB of memory
Intel launches new Core Ultra series 3 chips for laptops at CES 2026
Powering the AI data center boom: the infrastructure upgrades behind innovation
GMKTec EVO-T2 has more AI firepower than Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PC — Core Ultra X9 388H delivers 180TOPS, 50% more than its AMD rival
AMD's new Ryzen AI 400 CPUs prioritize AI skills over GPU power
Latest in Pro
No, the sub-$500 PC market will not disappear by 2028 - Au contraire, I expect it to thrive. Here's why
‘I can think of a couple Pretti Good reasons!’: Hacktivists may have just cracked open ICE and exposed over 6,000 companies working with the DHS
2025 was the year AI grew up. How will AI evolve in 2026?
Seagate reveals Mozaic 4+, its highest-capacity hard drives ever, offering up to 44TB for the next generation of storage
This new phishing campaign uses a fake Google Account security page to steal passcodes and more
Microsoft warns of OAuth phishing campaigns able to bypass email and browser defenses - says 'these campaigns demonstrate that this abuse is operational, not theoretical'
Latest in News
MWC 2026 day 2: the 7 best gadgets we've seen today
IKEA's donut-shaped Varmblixt smart lamp is landing early in some stores
“AI in networks isn’t CPU vs. GPU”: Intel unveils 18A-based Clearwater Forest Xeon 6+ for edge AI and early 6G infrastructure
Pokémon Pokopia is the highest-rated Pokémon game since X/Y on Metacritic, and it's not even out on Nintendo Switch 2 yet
Blue Prince just got a Switch 2 release date, alongside 17 more game announcements — here are the top 3 games from the latest Indie World Showcase coming to the Switch consoles that I'm most excited for
Get up to $50 to watch For All Mankind season 5 with this stellar VPN deal
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Is your TV too dark? Here are 3 easy tips to fix it
- 2Marathon is a different kind of extraction shooter, and it won’t be for everyone
- 3MWC 2026 day 2: the 7 best gadgets we've seen today
- 4Samsung is bringing glasses-free 3D to a billboard near you - 'spatial signage' could lead to a new generation of ads
- 5Sony WF-1000XM6 vs AirPods Pro 3: which should you buy?