Dell Technologies has introduced the Dell PowerEdge XR9700, a closed-loop, liquid-cooled, fully enclosed rugged server designed to run Cloud RAN and edge AI workloads in unprotected outdoor environments. Engineered for deployment on utility poles, rooftops, and building exteriors, the XR9700 targets dense urban buildouts, remote sites, and space-constrained locations where traditional data center footprints and environmental controls are impractical.
Telecommunications and edge operators frequently face constraints around power, space, and serviceability at the point of deployment. Dell positions the XR9700 as a zero-footprint, ultra-compact compute platform that delivers high-performance processing directly to cell sites and other edge locations. The system is housed in an IP66-rated enclosure designed to remain sealed from dust and moisture, enabling installation in exposed environments while supporting software-defined networking. For telecom, the XR9700 is designed to support Cloud RAN and Open RAN processing at the cell site, while also providing a platform for running AI inference and edge applications where data is produced and consumed.
Built for Extreme Conditions
The XR9700 is built around an ultra-compact, 15-liter chassis designed for outdoor mounting and validated for harsh deployments with an IP66-rated enclosure and GR-3108 Class 4 certification. Dell’s thermal approach centers on closed-loop liquid cooling and a thermal management architecture intended to maintain stable operation across a wide environmental envelope. Dell lists an operating temperature range of -40°C to 46°C (-40°F to 115°F) and notes resilience to direct solar radiation, with an emphasis on quiet operation in environments where fan noise and airflow can be limiting factors. The intent is to extend compute placement beyond cabinet and shelter deployments to locations typically reserved for traditional radio-only installations.
Performance and Cloud RAN Density
On the compute side, the XR9700 is powered by an Intel Xeon 6 SoC, with integrated Intel vRAN Boost and AMX technologies to accelerate virtualized RAN and AI-related processing. Dell states the platform provides sufficient processing and fronthaul connectivity to support up to 15 5G sectors on a single server, positioning the system as a consolidation point for Cloud RAN at the edge. Beyond RAN, Dell is emphasizing deployment flexibility for edge and AI workloads that align with operator network architectures and service requirements.
Management Integration and Consistent Deployment
As part of the Dell PowerEdge XR-Series, the XR9700 integrates with Dell’s established management stack. Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) enables remote monitoring and control, including zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) for distributed deployments. Dell also notes software continuity with its existing telecom edge portfolio, citing compatibility with the same Cloud RAN software that has been validated on the PowerEdge XR8720t. That alignment is intended to reduce re-certification effort and speed rollout for operators standardizing on a common software baseline across ruggedized platforms.
Dell leadership framed the XR9700 as a way to extend Cloud RAN, Open RAN, and edge AI to locations previously considered unreachable for server-class infrastructure without sacrificing performance for environmental resilience.
Availability
Dell expects the PowerEdge XR9700 to be globally available in 2H CY 2026.
Amazon