Marvell Newsroom

Newsroom

Marvell Open Sources OCTEON 10 ML/AI Accelerator Software to Optimize 5G RAN Networks

Adding OCTEON® 10 processor to Linux Foundation’s Datapath Developer Kit and the Apache device library provides ML model developers standardized API access to the chip's ML/AI acceleration engine.

Improves the performance of 5G RAN networks by enabling OEMs and operators, such as Nokia and Vodafone, to easily develop and implement innovative ML/AI models using open-source tools.

BARCELONA, Spain and SANTA CLARA, Calif.– February 26, 2024 – Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced the support for its OCTEON 10 processors in the Machine Learning Device Library (MLDEV) of the widely used Datapath Developer Kit (DPDK) open-source software project managed by the Linux Foundation. Through contributions accepted to the Apache TVM (Tensor Virtual Machine) project, developers can use open-source tools to build machine learning (ML) models that can be executed in OCTEON 10’s integrated ML/AI acceleration engine, simplifying the adoption of these models for 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) optimization.

“We are proud to be the first vendor to incorporate AI/ML into our ReefShark SoCs and AirScale portfolio. This technology allows us to differentiate our solutions and offer the best spectral efficiency and cell edge performance in the industry. We are now at the forefront of bringing machine learning technology to our customers and exploring its enormous possibilities ahead of the 6G era,” said Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia.

“The ever-increasing complexity of RAN makes AI/ML the ideal technology to efficiently solve challenges around radio resource configuration, allocation, and optimization. Vodafone is a pioneer in this field, having deployed multiple uses of AI/ML in our network since 2017,” said Francisco Martin (Paco), Head of Open RAN at Vodafone. “We are pleased to be collaborating with Marvell to bring this to the very core of radio processing, which will enable a fully AI-native RAN.”

Using open-source ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and ONNX, developers can create their own models for optimizing the performance of the RAN Distributed Unit (DU) and Radio Unit (RU). Via standard APIs, these models can be implemented on the OCTEON 10 ML/AI accelerator, providing OEMs and service providers with enhanced ability to optimize massive MIMO beam selection, improve channel estimation, identify security risks or address other tasks to improve network performance, efficiency and operating economics.

The OCTEON 10 ML/AI accelerator features a scalable tiled architecture and best-in-class performance-power ratio at 8 trillion operations per second per watt. The new API access follows the same principles used in DPDK’s Ethernet Device framework and Crypto framework already supported by OCTEON 10 processors.

The OCTEON 10 processor family is purpose-built to serve as the primary processing unit in RUs, DUs, enterprise networking equipment, or as a data processing unit in clouds and AI clusters. Unlike competitive solutions, OCTEON drivers are designed to integrate with open-source frameworks to make them accessible and easy to use by the development community. Incorporating digital signal processors, Arm® Neoverse™ CPUs, and optimized hardware accelerators like the inference processor and inline crypto engine, OCTEON 10 is the product-of-choice for some of the most intense workloads in wireless and security applications.  

“Our commitment to open-source integration is evident in the vast Marvell contribution to DPDK, OPI, and similar initiatives,” said Will Chu, senior vice president and general manager, Custom, Compute and Storage Group at Marvell. “Giving developers access to processor modules will enable industry innovations that build smarter, faster, and more secure RAN networks.”

Visit Marvell at MWC Barcelona 2024, taking place through February 29, in stand 2F34 in Hall 2 and partner stands including Nokia, hall 3, stand 3A2.


About Marvell

To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we’re building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world’s leading technology companies for over 25 years, we move, store, process and secure the world’s data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers’ current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we’re ultimately changing the way tomorrow’s enterprise, cloud, automotive, and carrier architectures transform—for the better.

###

Marvell and the M logo are trademarks of Marvell or its affiliates. Please visit www.marvell.com for a complete list of Marvell trademarks. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future events, results or achievements. Actual events, results or achievements may differ materially from those contemplated in this press release. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and no person assumes any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, contact:
Michael Kanellos, Head of Influencer Relations
pr@marvell.com

Marvell In The News

Black Hat 2024: Marvell Secures Microsoft LiquidSecurity HSM Update
Boosting copper’s reach in the data centre
Microsoft Integrates Marvell's FIPS 140-3 Security Modules
OIF Champions Interoperability at ECOC 2024: 34 Member Companies to Showcase Solutions for Data Centers, AI/ML Technologies and Disaggregated Systems
Marvell intros CXL 2.0 memory acceleration and expansion gear
Marvell intros Structera CXL for Enhanced Memory Performance
Marvell Intros PCIe Retimers Based on PAM4

Media Contact

For general media inquiries, please contact pr@marvell.com.