Dell unveils rugged PowerEdge server to power next-gen Open RAN and edge AI
Dell Technologies has released the PowerEdge XR8720t, the first single-server solution for Open RAN and Cloud RAN deployments delivering performance, scalability and a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
The server delivers up to 72 cores, 24 x 25G port density and powerful telecom capabilities to meet the performance requirements in edge and telecom infrastructure. It streamlines deployment and reduces complexity, while providing the redundant processing power needed for high demand applications compared to previous generations.
AI-ready features, meanwhile, support advanced edge AI use cases such as real-time analytics and machine learning with optional GPU support for greater AI capacity.
“The Dell PowerEdge XR8720t represents a significant step forward in telecom and edge infrastructure innovation,” says Dennis Hoffman, senior vice president, Dell Technologies. “As the first platform of its kind, it is engineered to meet the rigorous demands of Open RAN and Cloud RAN deployments while delivering exceptional performance and scalability for edge workloads. This breakthrough allows organizations to consolidate workloads that once required multiple systems, simplifying infrastructure and paving the way for more powerful, efficient and AI-ready networks.”
Built to last despite being highly robust and in a modular form factor, it’s heavy on performance and light on its feet with climate saver architecture helping achieve 80 PLUS titanium-rated energy efficiency to meet the demands of even the most challenging environments, our rugged server operates from between -5°C up to 55°C (23°F to 131°F), and is compliant with NEBS Level 3 for high levels of resilience.
The Dell PowerEdge XR8720t is designed to attach seamlessly to the Dell PowerEdge XR8000 platform, bringing a dense and smaller chassis for constrained spaces, and enhanced cooling.
It is specifically designed for telecom, retail, defense and manufacturing applications which require advanced synchronisation as it supports AI, ML and precision based tasks.
The Dell PowerEdge XR8720t will be offered worldwide starting in Q1 2026.
Earlier this year, Dell unveiled Dell NativeEdge 2.0, a software platform designed to streamline, enhance and secure edge operations.
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Article Topics
AI/ML | Dell | edge AI | edge computing | Open RAN | rugged servers | telecom infrastructure
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