Rakuten Mobile verifies Intel Xeon 6 processor with E-cores on Rakuten Cloud

- Reduces power consumption by approximately 30% while maintaining equivalent throughput to commercially deployed platforms

Tokyo – Rakuten Mobile, Inc., in collaboration with Intel, today announced verification of Intel Xeon 6 processor with E-cores^*1, in preparation for commercial deployment in its 5G core network (5GC). The verification used containerized 5GC applications^*2-3, deployed on Rakuten Symphony’s Rakuten Cloud^*4 solution.

During the performance verification, Xeon 6 maintained a throughput of 30 Gbps, while simultaneously reducing power consumption by approximately 30%, compared to previous generations^*5. This performance-per-watt advancement can enable improved energy efficiency, lower operational costs and advance sustainability goals without compromising performance.

With up to 144 power-efficient computing cores, Xeon 6 is well-suited for microservices-based 5GC architectures that simultaneously run numerous lightweight containers. This allows efficient resource allocation for control plane functions, such as mobility management and authentication, as well as for data transfer processing like voice, video and application communications, adapting flexibly to fluctuating loads.

Rakuten Mobile's fully virtualized, cloud-native mobile network leverages container technology for its 4G and 5G network infrastructure, adopting a microservices approach for network development. The network also adheres to Open RAN standards, supporting multi-vendor connectivity. Drawing on the company’s experience in commercially deploying cloud-native platforms and applications globally, Rakuten Mobile collaborated with Intel to conduct this performance verification of the processor for mobile communication. By conducting this verification within a containerized 5GC environment, Rakuten Mobile confirmed the processor’s ability to enable power-efficient network operations within telecom clouds.  

Going forward, Rakuten Mobile plans to deploy Xeon 6 across hardware in its 5GC. Looking ahead, Rakuten Mobile will also explore leveraging this technology for multi-access edge computing (MEC) to reduce latency and enhance performance, including edge cloud deployment in regional data centers.

Ryota Mibu, General Manager, Rakuten Mobile’s Telecommunication Cloud Platform Department, commented, "Our integration of container technology into Rakuten Mobile’s cloud-native mobile network has driven significant operational efficiencies. Now, by deploying this processor with its numerous power-efficient e-cores into our commercial environment, we expect a substantial boost in both power efficiency and processing capability for our microservices-based 5GC. We will continue to champion innovative technological development, contributing to the evolution of next-generation mobile networks."

Through strategic collaborations with partners like Intel, Rakuten Mobile remains committed to introducing advanced technologies that reduce environmental impact and optimize network operations, providing customers with a high-quality, stable and sustainable communication experience.

Notes:
*1 Efficient cores (E-cores) are optimized for high core density and exceptional performance per watt, delivering distinct advantages for cloud-scale workloads that demand high-task parallel throughput. This efficient performance is also ideal where power, space and cooling are limited. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/docs/xeon-6-product-brief.html
*2 A container is a technology that creates an application execution environment isolated from other processes on the operating system (OS), enabling a virtual operating environment to be realized with fewer computer resources.
*3 F5's CGNAT Cloud-Native Edition was selected as the benchmark application for this verification, chosen for its cloud-native architecture and ability to deliver consistent, high-throughput packet processing performance critical to 5G core network deployments.
*4 Some Rakuten Cloud features incorporate R&D outcomes obtained through a grant project by NICT (JPJ012368G50901).
Related press release: Rakuten Mobile Launches R&D into Advanced Edge Cloud Technology, with Funding Awarded by NICT https://corp.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/english/news/press/2023/1117_01/
*5 Joint performance verification for 5GC applications on Rakuten Cloud was conducted in the Rakuten Cloud Innovation Lab test environment. It utilized a currently commercially deployed 3rd Gen. Intel Xeon Scalable processor and the Intel Xeon 6 processor with E-Cores. Throughput and power consumption were measured under test conditions. Research by Rakuten Mobile, as of December 17, 2025.