Digital Newsletter
Each week our editor Phil Alsop rounds up the most popular articles, videos and expert opinions. We compile this into a Digital Newsletter and send it straight to your inbox every week.
Digital Magazines
We'll let you know each time a new edition of Data Centre Solutions is released so that you're always kept up-to-date with the latest and greatest news and press releases.
Video Magazines
The Data Centre Solutions Video magazine contains the latest Zoom interviews with experts in the industry.
Dell Technologies has announced the launch of the PowerEdge XR9700, a server designed for deployment in outdoor environments. With its liquid-cooled, fully enclosed architecture, the server supports operations such as Cloud RAN and edge AI workloads. It can be mounted on utility poles, rooftops, or building sides, making it suitable for dense urban areas, remote locations, and space-constrained sites where standard data centre infrastructure cannot be used.
Deploying computing resources directly on-site is often challenging for telecom operators due to space and power limitations. The PowerEdge XR9700 aims to provide computing capacity at the point of need within a compact, IP66-rated enclosure, protecting the system from external elements. The server supports Cloud RAN and Open RAN processing at cell sites while running AI applications where data is generated and consumed.
The server’s IP66-rated casing and GR-3108 Class 4 certification enable it to maintain consistent, quiet performance in environments with extreme temperatures, dust, or moisture. Its closed-loop liquid cooling and thermal management system allow operation across a temperature range of -40°C to 46°C (-40°F to 115°F), including direct solar exposure. The 15-litre form factor is suitable for installation on poles and rooftops, allowing telecom and edge workloads in locations that were previously accessible only to traditional radio solutions.
The PowerEdge XR9700 uses the Intel Xeon D-SOC with integrated Intel vRAN Boost and Intel AMX technology, providing the processing power and fronthaul connectivity to support up to 15 5G sectors per server. While optimised for Cloud RAN, the server can also support edge and AI workloads according to network architecture and service requirements.
As part of the Dell PowerEdge XR-Series, the XR9700 integrates with Dell’s management tools and software stack. The iDRAC feature provides remote access for zero-touch provisioning (ZTP), and compatibility with previously validated Cloud RAN software aligns with the PowerEdge XR8720t, supporting efficient telecom deployment.
