Intel Corporation Presents at KeyBanc Capital Markets Future of Technology Series, Aug-11-2020 10:00 AM - SEHK:4335

SEHK:4335

Daniel Rodriguez, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Network Platforms Group at Intel Corporation, presented Intel's networking strategy and edge computing initiatives. Here’s a detailed summary of his remarks:

Overview

• Intel started its network transformation journey in the early part of the last decade, working with communication service providers and their ecosystem.
• Hyperscale data centers have demonstrated the scalability and efficiency of cloud architectures, which communication service providers are now leveraging.
• Intel has invested in CPUs, System-on-Chips (SoCs), and virtualization technology to ensure seamless operation of multiple communication workloads on Intel-based servers.

Network Transformation Journey

• 2013: Intel, in partnership with various communication service providers, created the Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) project with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).
• 2015: Nearly 20% of communication service providers were deploying some level of NFV in their networks.
• 2017: Intel contributed its Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) to the Linux community, enabling the mass adoption of network transformation by moving workloads from dedicated hardware appliances to general-purpose servers.
• 2019: Rocketon launched the first 100% fully virtualized cloud-native network, and its LTE network has been rolled out commercially.

Growth and Strategy

• Intel's networking business grew from less than $1 billion in 2014 to over $5 billion in 2019.
• Intel is investing in solutions ranging from Internet of Things (IoT), network, and AI to meet the flexibility and scale commonly found in data centers at the edge.

Edge Computing

• The emergence of the edge is driven by the need to process and analyze data closer to the user for better latency, bandwidth, reliability, and security.
• Intel is focusing on delivering hardware and software products optimized for edge computing, including developer tools that make the portfolio easier to consume and democratize the edge.
• Intel aims to support various verticals such as industrial, retail, visual cloud, media, financial services, and healthcare.

Challenges and Solutions

• Deploying services at the edge requires managing multiple edge locations across various types of customer premises and network edges.
• Platform solutions for the edge need to leverage and reuse proven cloud technologies while requiring edge-native optimizations.
• Intel collaborates with the industry and ecosystem to address these challenges, investing in silicon and software to deliver the promise of edge computing.

Product Portfolio

• Intel offers a diverse portfolio, including Xeon Scalable processors, Xeon D family, Core processors, Atom SoCs, and platform-level technologies like Ethernet, Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and accelerators like Movidius.

Software Strategy

• Intel's software strategy focuses on creating an “easy button” for developers, offering a wide variety of open-source development software.
• Intel invests in software solutions targeting network, media, and AI workloads with specific development kits for vertical markets.

Customer Examples

• Audi: Uses Intel-based edge analytics and machine learning to automate and enhance critical quality control processes in its factories.
• CenturyLink: Runs virtual network functions and standard enterprise applications on Intel’s Xeon Scalable processors from their network edge, supporting retail, adaptive manufacturing, and AI-powered video analytics.

Collaboration

• Intel collaborates with solution providers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) around the globe to focus on vertical-specific applications on top of Intel's platform.

Conclusion

• Intel sees the edge as a massive opportunity and believes it will take the entire ecosystem and value chain to deliver the promise of edge computing.