Time is precious.
Time to work, time to play, time to spend with friends and family. Likewise, time is valuable for 5G networks. While we often talk about latency and capacity metrics, one way to improve performance is through clock synchronization.
Improved Network Synchronization at a More Affordable Cost
I am excited to announce Intel’s first 5G optimized network adapter, the new Intel Ethernet 700 Series Network Adapter XXV710-DA2T with Hardware-Enhanced Precision Time Protocol. Formerly codenamed Edgewater Channel, this product is a powerful solution for latency-sensitive 5G Edge applications such as O-RAN, Flex RAN, and macro cells, and is suitable for application in industrial, financial services, and energy transport use cases. It enables accurate time synchronization across the network without the added complexity and expense of specialty timing hardware.
As 5G evolves, new use cases will emerge for low-latency and precision timing capabilities as part of a cost-effective solution. For example, customers recognize the value in services such as Enhanced 911 (in the U.S.), eCall (999 in Europe). This new network adapter creates new opportunities to improve these services and accelerate their delivery.
By sensing the timing delay between different towers using a technique known as trilateration, the location of an emergency caller’s location can be determined. In the past, the tightest radius with which you could identify an emergency caller’s location was 100 meters with 3G and 50 meters with 4G. By reducing the disparity in synchronization timing between signals with 5G using the Intel Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2T with HW-Enhanced PTP, it is possible to reduce this radius to 30 meters – a huge difference when every second counts. This is a clear illustration of how timing synchronization across the network benefits end-user applications.
Intel Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2T with HW-Enhanced PTP represents the culmination of several innovations specifically created to meet industry demands for greater timing accuracy. Notable advancements that enable this 30-meter range capability include:
- A high-precision oscillator providing up to 5,000 times tighter accuracy versus a traditional Network Interface Card (NIC)
- The addition of coaxial connectors for signaling connections between NICs in edge base stations or external GPS input
- Driver support to enable 1 pulse per second in various I/O configurations
Unmatched Portfolio for 5G Network Infrastructure
Intel Ethernet 700 series solutions are part of Intel’s unmatched silicon portfolio for 5G network infrastructure, which now includes updated 2nd Generation Intel Xeon® Scalable processors that deliver increased performance and capabilities for a broad range of communications customers. These latest processors deliver industry-leading frequency, improved value, and 36% average performance gains in comparison to previous gen alternatives[1].
This week has seen the launch of the Intel Atom® P5900 processor family, and leading providers will begin deploying optimized 5G baseband and radio solutions based on the platform starting this year. The Intel Atom P5900 processors are the world’s first standard, high-volume silicon foundation for radio access networks. These solutions are an all-new class of 10nm system-on-a-chip (SoC) for 5G base stations and feature Intel Ethernet 800 Series technology enabling throughput of up to 100Gbps. The integration of the latest Intel Ethernet technology as an element of this advanced SoC facilitates up to 16% greater single-core packet throughput in comparison to the use of an external NIC[2].
Intel Atom P5900 is representative of the broader innovation enabled by Intel Ethernet 800 Series and the benefits of consistent Intel silicon technology that spans the network from core to edge. Intel Ethernet 800 series products started shipping to select customers in Q4’19, and we look forward to its broader availability in Q3 2020.
Trusted Partner
Our unmatched portfolio, including updated 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, new Intel Atom P5900 processors, and extending to Intel Ethernet 700 and 800 series network adapters, demonstrate Intel’s commitment to delivering the most trusted path to deploy 5G solutions. Intel also offers unique connectivity solutions such as P4-programmable Barefoot Networks Tofino Ethernet switch ASICs and Intel’s leading Silicon Photonics optical transceiver products, all of which are designed to accelerate innovations to benefit networks today.
Intel continues to deliver important Ethernet innovations that address core challenges faced by communication services providers, including the necessity to precisely synchronize network timing for 5G ecosystems -- preserving the most precious commodity: time.
For more, visit intel.com/ethernet and follow me on Twitter at @PattyKummrow.
Notices & Disclaimers
Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more complete information visit www.intel.com/benchmarks.
Performance results are based on testing as of dates shown in configurations and may not reflect all publicly available security updates. See backup for configuration details. No product or component can be absolutely secure.
Results have been estimated or simulated using internal Intel analysis or architecture simulation or modeling and provided to you for informational purposes. Any differences in your system hardware, software or configuration may affect your actual performance.
Optimization Notice: Intel's compilers may or may not optimize to the same degree for non-Intel microprocessors for optimizations that are not unique to Intel microprocessors. These optimizations include SSE2, SSE3, and SSSE3 instruction sets and other optimizations. Intel does not guarantee the availability, functionality, or effectiveness of any optimization on microprocessors not manufactured by Intel. Microprocessor-dependent optimizations in this product are intended for use with Intel microprocessors. Certain optimizations not specific to Intel microarchitecture are reserved for Intel microprocessors. Please refer to the applicable product User and Reference Guides for more information regarding the specific instruction sets covered by this notice. Notice Revision #20110804.
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[1] 1.36x performance across workloads: Geomean of Integer Throughput, Floating Point Throughput, Stream Triad, and Linpack - Configurations: 1-node, 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6258R on Intel Reference platform with 384 GB (12 slots / 32 GB / 2933) total memory, ucode 0x500002c, HT on for all except off for Stream, Linpack, Turbo on, with Ubuntu19.10, 5.3.0-24-generic, integer tpt=323, floating point tpt=262, Stream Triad=224.4, Linpack=3305, test by Intel on 12/25/2019. vs. 1-node, 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6152 on Intel Reference platform with 384 GB (12 slots / 32 GB / 2933) total memory, ucode 0x500002c, HT on for all except off for Stream, Linpack, Turbo on, with Ubuntu19.10, 5.3.0-24-generic, integer tpt=224, floating point tpt=198, Stream Triad=200.9, Linpack=1988, test by Intel on 12/25/2019.
[2] Tested by Intel on 1/27/2020, 1x Intel Atom® P5952B processor (Running under A-3 Eng Silicon 20C, 2.2GHz) on Intel internal Victoria Canyon platform, 16GB DDR4 2933MHz, OS: Ubuntu 18.04 with Kernel: 5.2.10-rt5, BIOS: JBVLCRB1.86B.0012.D17.1911070324, uCode: 0x90040006, Benchmark: DPDK L3FWD-ACL (1C/1T/1P) (Estimated), Software: DPDK 19.05, Compiler: GCC 7.3.0 with MKL, Network: Integrated 100GbE Intel® Ethernet 800 Series technology Onboard 100GbE NIC compared to 1x Intel Atom® P5952B processor (Running under A-3 Eng Silicon 20C, 2.2GHz) on Intel internal Victoria Canyon platform, 16GB DDR4 2933MHz ,OS: Ubuntu 18.04 with Kernel: 5.2.10-rt5, BIOS: JBVLCRB1.86B.0012.D17.1911070324, uCode: 0x90040006, Benchmark: DPDK L3FWD-ACL (1C/1T/1P) (Estimated), Software: DPDK 19.05, Compiler: GCC 7.3.0 with MKL, Network: 1x Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-DA4(10GbE).