Ampere is making significant strides in the telecom market with its high-performance, energy-efficient processors. In response to the rapid growth of 5G, edge computing, and AI-driven workloads, Ampere has identified an opportunity to help telecom providers meet rising performance requirements while reducing costs and energy consumption. Its innovative Altra® family of processors stands out for their high core density, energy efficiency, and scalable attributes—qualities that align well with the increasing demands of the telecom industry.
Market Growth and Opportunities
Expanding Telecom Services Market
According to Grandview Research, the global telecom services market is projected to reach $1.9 billion by 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 6.5% between 2025 and 2030. This growth is attributed mainly to the extensive deployment of 5G infrastructure and the consumer shift toward advanced technologies and smartphones. This immense expansion poses both opportunities and challenges for telecom providers, as they must upgrade their infrastructure to support the high-speed demands of next-generation networks.
The anticipated market growth underscores the essential role that advanced processors play in modern telecom networks. As data consumption soars and users demand faster, more reliable connectivity, telecom operators are seeking solutions that offer both performance and efficiency. This is where Ampere’s Altra® processors come into play, meeting these requirements and setting new standards for energy consumption and cost efficiency.
Ampere’s Competitive Edge
Ampere’s processors provide a substantial advantage in this expanding market due to their power efficiency, which is essential for reducing the operational costs for telcos. The processors’ efficient thermal design makes them suitable for various edge form factors in telecom network infrastructure. This allows for versatile applications across different network architectures, including dense urban environments and remote rural areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage and high performance.
In addition to their power efficiency, Ampere’s processors are characterized by a high core density, facilitating the processing of massive amounts of data quickly and effectively. The scalable nature of these processors means that they can be tailored to fit the unique needs of individual telecom operators, whether it’s for large-scale data centers or smaller, edge deployments. This flexibility is a significant advantage in an industry where adaptability and rapid response to changing demands are crucial.
Strategic Collaborations
Partnership with Parallel Wireless
Ampere is strengthening its position within the telecom sector by announcing new trials with global telecom customers. One notable collaboration is with Parallel Wireless. This partnership involves deploying Parallel Wireless’s Hardware-Agnostic cloud-native Distributed Unit (DU) stack for 5G SA, 5G NSA, 4G, and 2G on Ampere processors. This collaboration not only highlights Ampere’s technological prowess but also aligns with the industry’s shift towards open and flexible network architectures.
By leveraging the power of Ampere’s processors, Parallel Wireless aims to provide a robust and flexible solution that supports multiple generations of wireless technology, all within a unified infrastructure. This integration will commercialize a comprehensive portfolio of cellular network technologies on Ampere’s platform, making it easier for telecom operators to adapt to the evolving technological landscape without the need for extensive and costly hardware overhauls.
Benefits of the Partnership
By joining forces with Parallel Wireless, which provides a hardware-agnostic All G (2G/4G/5G NSA/5G SA) solution, Ampere extends its Open RAN supply chain reach. The partnership merges Ampere’s energy-efficient processors with Parallel Wireless’s DU, enabling operators to support multiple network generations on a single, flexible infrastructure. This results in a high-performing system that significantly lowers power usage and reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO).
Netanel Gabizon, the Chief Product Officer at Parallel Wireless, highlights the partnership’s significance in creating the first fully software-based cloud-native, carrier-grade, All G solution targeting Ampere platforms. This collaboration underscores Parallel Wireless’s dedication to fostering secure, innovative, and energy-efficient networks. Such advancements in network infrastructure mark a critical step towards the widespread deployment of next-generation telecom technologies, promising not only enhanced performance but also a reduction in operational complexities and costs.
Expanding Ecosystem
Supermicro’s Role
Supermicro is in the process of qualifying its Ampere-based ARS-210ME-FNR short-depth telecom platforms for carrier trials. Michael Clegg, VP & GM, 5G/Edge at Supermicro, highlights that their Ampere Arm-based MegaDC platforms represent a cutting-edge advancement due to their power-efficient design. These platforms are specifically engineered to meet the demands of modern telecom networks, including the need for high-performance processing and energy efficiency.
The short-depth telecom platforms are slated for qualification and are designed to support expansion into dense MIMO metro environments. This makes them particularly well-suited for 5G, Telco, and edge solutions, including AI-driven applications. As the telecom industry increasingly incorporates AI and machine learning into its networks, the ability to deploy efficient, high-performance hardware becomes crucial. Supermicro’s focus on sustainability and efficiency in their Ampere-based platforms positions them at the forefront of next-generation network infrastructure.
SynaXG’s Support
SynaXG, a leading provider of baseband O-RAN software, fully supports Ampere Arm-based virtual DU solutions for commercial telecom deployments. Their suite of RAN software and hardware accelerator cards comply with 3GPP standards, meeting the evolving demands of 4G and 5G networks. This collaboration ensures that Ampere’s processors are backed by industry-leading software, providing a complete solution for telecom operators seeking to upgrade their networks.
Mantosh Malhotra, Chief Business Officer at SynaXG, emphasizes the synergy between their RAN software and Ampere’s platform, highlighting optimized network performance and energy efficiency. This partnership not only enhances the capabilities of Ampere’s hardware but also ensures seamless integration with existing telecom infrastructure, facilitating a smoother transition to advanced network technologies. The combination of Ampere’s processors and SynaXG’s software solutions represents a powerful tool for telecom operators looking to future-proof their networks while maintaining cost and energy efficiency.
Advancements with Fujitsu and SUSE
Fujitsu’s Virtualized Network Services
Fujitsu has joined forces with Ampere, utilizing its advanced Ampere platform to deliver a 5G virtualized network services stack. The stack, which is O-RAN Alliance compliant, will undergo trials starting in early 2025. This collaboration aims to provide a high-performance, low-power solution that meets the rigorous demands of modern telecom networks, ensuring reliable and efficient service delivery.
Masaki Taniguchi, SVP and Head of Mobile System Business Unit at Fujitsu, expresses satisfaction in offering a 5G virtualized RAN solution that leverages Ampere’s low-power infrastructure. This partnership underscores Fujitsu’s commitment to delivering sustainable, cost-effective mobile solutions for global telecommunications customers. By integrating Ampere’s processors into their network services stack, Fujitsu aims to drive innovation in telecom infrastructure, paving the way for the next generation of wireless networks.
SUSE’s Integration
Ampere’s collaboration with SUSE extends from the enterprise Linux market to the telecom sector. SUSE’s horizontal telco cloud platform has been validated for RAN use cases on Ampere-based aarch64 servers from Supermicro. This partnership also supports Parallel Wireless’s GreenRAN™ solutions, ensuring efficient management, optimization, and secure data processing while reducing TCO for operators.
Tim Irnich, Distinguished Product Manager Edge for Telco at SUSE, reflects on the successful performance and power efficiency achieved with Ampere CPUs, thanks to their established collaboration. The combination of SUSE’s software solutions and Ampere’s hardware provides telecom operators with a powerful and flexible platform to build their networks upon. This collaboration demonstrates the potential for innovation and efficiency in the telecom industry, driven by partnerships that leverage the strengths of multiple technology providers.
Canonical and OREX SAI Collaborations
Canonical’s Cloud-Native Software
Canonical, known for its popular Ubuntu operating system, runs its cloud-native software stack on Ampere silicon, providing secure, low-touch, and energy-efficient edge clouds for telco networks. This partnership allows telecom operators to leverage Canonical’s robust and reliable software platform to build and manage their networks efficiently. The integration of Canonical’s tools and Ampere’s hardware ensures a seamless and secure experience for operators and end-users alike.
Canonical’s solutions, including Ubuntu server with a real-time kernel and AI/ML tooling for AI-RAN operations, support Arm-based platforms and are instrumental in deploying ORAN and 5G infrastructure. This combination of software and hardware enables telecom operators to deploy advanced AI-driven applications and services while maintaining operational efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Canonical’s focus on innovation and efficiency aligns perfectly with Ampere’s commitment to providing high-performance, sustainable solutions for the telecom industry.
OREX SAI’s Open RAN Solutions
Ampere is making significant headway in the telecom industry with its cutting-edge, energy-efficient processors. With the rapid expansion of 5G technology, edge computing, and AI-driven workloads, there’s a growing need for more robust computing solutions in telecom. Ampere has recognized this demand and seized the opportunity to assist telecom providers in meeting these increasing performance standards, all while cutting costs and conserving energy.
Their innovative Altra® family of processors is particularly noteworthy. These processors excel in delivering high core density, unmatched energy efficiency, and scalable capabilities. These features make them an excellent fit for the ever-growing demands of the telecom industry. By integrating Altra® processors, telecom companies can tackle the challenges brought forth by advanced technological developments without compromising on performance or energy consumption.
Given the pace at which technology is evolving, Ampere’s processors provide a future-proof solution, ensuring that telecom providers are well-prepared for upcoming advancements and increasing data traffic. This makes Altra® processors a valuable asset for telecom companies striving to stay ahead in a competitive market while also adhering to sustainability goals. Their contributions not only elevate performance but also promote a more energy-conscious approach, setting new standards for efficiency in the telecom sector.
