Iceotope announced KUL RAN, an ultra-resilient and highly energy-efficient precision liquid-cooled server solution, to address extreme edge deployment challenges across the entire telco estate. KUL RAN features a new 19-inch, short-depth rack form factor with HPE ProLiant DL110 servers and 4^th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors optimized for high-density, low-latency edge, virtualized RAN, and 5G services. The solution fits to existing deployed infrastructure.

Extreme edge deployments tend to have reduced control over environmental exposure during installation, operation, and maintenance compared to centralized data center facilities. KUL RAN is specifically designed for telco and harsh edge deployments to meet the need for reliable data processing installations close to the point of use in the face of a range of challenges from power constraints to service accessibility, as well as local environment and ambient weather conditions. The solution, developed in partnership with Intel and HPE, will help accelerate adoption by achieving game-changing reductions in power consumption and maintenance costs while maintaining or enhancing data center density. 

Energy consumption
Precision liquid cooling removes nearly 100% of the heat generated by the electronic components of a server. This not only reduces energy consumption but also eliminates all water consumption as well. With much of the power usage in telco networks coming from RAN sites, KUL RAN stands as a clear enabler for energy efficiency, expediting the path to net zero for telcos. Paired with 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, together with HPE ProLiant DL110 servers, customers can gain further power efficiencies in their network and edge sites.

“Fit and forget”
With thousands of sites in remote locations, telco providers are continuously looking for ways to minimize on-site maintenance costs. KUL RAN is a “fit and forget” solution for reliable operations with significantly fewer service visits, greatly reducing the OpEx burden on operators. It can be installed, removed, and replaced without risk of weather or contaminant ingress reaching sensitive HPE ProLiant DL110 server components and 4^th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, thanks to its sealed chassis. Its IP67-rated enclosure provides 100% protection from thermal shock, dust, and other airborne contaminants, keeping the housed solution factory clean throughout its operational life.

The solution also enhances server uptime in extreme conditions should supporting systems fail, either at rack or shed level. In some instances, the deployment of KUL RAN, which is designed to far exceed NEBS compliance standards, means supporting environmental control systems do not need to deliver resiliency, saving the operator both CapEx and OpEx costs. It can be shipped as a warranted, boxed, standalone product — similar to any air-cooled HPE server — and does not require a combined server and infrastructure sales approach.

Scalable telco edge solutions
The modular design of KUL RAN is highly configurable, enabling rapid scalability across all types of deployments. Each unit can be easily dropped into place at any location. The unit mounts horizontally and requires no ancillary cooling infrastructure, such as fluid manifolds, hoses, or separate rack-mounted liquid or air-heat exchangers. The Iceotope chassis provides all necessary functions for the server in hot or cold extremes and anything in between. 

“Working in close collaboration with industry leaders Intel and HPE, Iceotope has delivered an innovative solution to the immediate challenges facing RAN network deployments,” said David Craig, CEO, Iceotope. “In doing so, this partnership has enabled the rapid advancement of a host of 5G-powered applications, bringing data processing and content closer to the point of use in all industrial, commercial, and consumer contexts.”

“The deployment of Cloud RAN-optimized compute at the telco edge is fundamental to the growth of RAN and Open RAN,” said Phil Cutrone, senior vice president and general manager of service providers, OEM, telco and major accounts at HPE. “The ability to deploy servers at extreme locations with reduced power consumption and maintenance costs, as well as enhanced server uptime, could be a game-changer in this market. We're delighted to extend our collaboration with Iceotope Technologies, combining the Cloud RAN-optimized HPE ProLiant DL110 server with Iceotope's KUL RAN liquid-cooled server solution.”

“As Intel works to enable more sustainable outcomes for customers, this innovation, in collaboration with HPE and Iceotope, represents a step toward delivering solutions that reduce environmental impacts,” Jeni Barovian Panhorst, vice president and general manager of the Network & Edge Compute Division at Intel. “Through Iceotope’s rack-based approach to deliver precision liquid cooling and HPE’s Gen 11 servers based on 4^th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, customers can take advantage of the enhanced TCO at the edge delivered by liquid cooling while maintaining many of their operational processes and KPIs.”