HPE’s Secure AI-Native Infrastructure: Powering the Modern Telco Network

At MWC26, Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Scott Meltzer and Katrine Spang-Hanssen discuss the company’s latest solutions for modernising telco networks and accelerating enterprise AI.

This includes its AI-native routing and O-RAN/vRAN capabilities, HPE Private Cloud for AI, multivendor AI ops solutions, secure infrastructure at scale, and its cloud-native self-driving operations platform.

Telecommunications service providers (CSPs) face unprecedented demands.

The rollout of 5G and preparation for 6G, combined with exploding data traffic, edge computing, AI-driven services, and Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) models, require infrastructure that is not only high-performance and scalable but also inherently intelligent and secure. Traditional networks struggle with complexity, energy consumption, latency, and cyber threats in this AI era.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) addresses these challenges with a comprehensive portfolio of Secure AI-native infrastructure solutions designed specifically for modern telco networks.

By integrating advanced compute, high-performance networking (bolstered by the Juniper Networks acquisition), hybrid cloud capabilities via HPE GreenLake, and embedded AI operations (AIOps), HPE enables CSPs to modernize from core to edge while prioritizing security, operational efficiency, and new revenue opportunities.

The Three Pillars of Telco Modernization with HPE

HPE’s approach centers on three strategic focus areas for communication service providers:

1. Open cloud-native functions for 5G core and NaaS.
2. AI-native network modernization for energy-efficient, high-capacity connectivity.
3. Secure infrastructure that ensures trust and resilience at scale.

This full-stack strategy leverages HPE’s strengths in compute, the AI-native capabilities of HPE Juniper Networking, and consumption-based models like GreenLake.

AI-Native Networking: Toward Self-Driving Operations

At the heart of HPE’s offering is HPE Networking AIOps — a secure, AI-native networking solution purpose-built for AIOps and autonomous (“self-driving”) operations. AI is embedded directly into the network core, delivering predictive insights, real-time optimization, and automated issue resolution.

Key components include:

• Mist AI and Marvis AI (an intelligent virtual network assistant) for proactive detection, diagnosis, and remediation using digital twins and unsupervised machine learning.
• Assurance suites such as WAN Assurance, Wi-Fi Assurance, Routing Assurance, Data Center Assurance, and Access Assurance.
• Marvis Actions for driver-assist and fully self-driving automation.
• Unified management through a cloud-native platform (HPE Aruba Networking Central) with multivendor observability and flexible deployment options.

For telcos, this translates to simplified operations across disparate domains, reduced manual intervention, and exceptional experiences for both end users and network operators. The solution supports high-capacity AI traffic while maintaining security and reliability.

Complementing this are Juniper PTX Series routers (including the new PTX12000 modular line and PTX10002 fixed routers), powered by custom ASICs like Juniper Express 5. These deliver massive scale (up to 518.4 Tbps in modular configurations), ultra-high 800G port density, low latency, and up to 49% better power efficiency—critical for handling AI and cloud traffic growth without constant infrastructure overhauls.

Optimized Compute for Telco Core, Edge, and AI Workloads

HPE provides purpose-built servers tailored for telco environments. The HPE ProLiant Compute EL140 Gen12 (and EL9000 chassis) stands out for far-edge and distributed sites. These rugged, NEBS Level 3-compliant systems support dense compute with up to 24 network ports, Intel Xeon 6 processors featuring AI acceleration (including vRAN Boost), and built-in security features. They handle 5G, AI inferencing, and analytics in space-, weight-, and power-constrained environments.

A key innovation is the integration of the Juniper Cloud-Native Router (JCNR) directly onto these ProLiant servers. This containerized, software-based router (running in Kubernetes environments) consolidates routing functions (e.g., cell site gateways) with compute workloads. It eliminates the need for separate routing hardware, reducing CapEx, OpEx, power consumption, and operational complexity while accelerating 5G deployments.

Secure, Scalable Cloud and Orchestration

HPE GreenLake offers a hybrid cloud platform with Private Cloud AI and HPE Cloud Ops Software. Cloud Ops provides a single control plane for virtualization, containers, observability, AIOps, cyber resiliency, DevOps, and FinOps across multivendor and multicloud environments. This reduces reliance on hypervisors, supports secure multi-tenant AI services, and accelerates service rollout.

GreenLake Intelligence adds a mesh of agentic AI capabilities that reason across the hybrid IT estate to solve problems autonomously.

Integrated Security: Zero Trust from Edge to Core

Security is foundational, not an afterthought. HPE delivers Secure AI-Native Edge, which unifies AIOps, networking, and security (including Juniper firewalls/SRX Series) under a single Mist console interface. It provides full visibility, context-aware policy enforcement, and streamlined collaboration between NetOps and SecOps teams.

This extends to SASE (SD-WAN + Security Service Edge) solutions with Zero Trust principles, ensuring policies follow users and workloads seamlessly. Built-in server security, AI-driven threat detection, and proactive vulnerability management help CSPs defend against evolving risks while maintaining compliance and data sovereignty.

Benefits for Modern Telcos

HPE’s solutions deliver:

• Operational simplicity and agility through automation and self-driving capabilities.
• Cost and energy efficiency via consolidation, power-optimized hardware, and reduced hardware footprints.
• Scalability for AI with low-latency, high-capacity infrastructure from core data centers to the far edge.
• Faster time-to-market for new services like private 5G, edge AI for enterprises, and NaaS.
• Enhanced security and trust, critical for monetizing AI-powered offerings.
• Flexible consumption models via GreenLake and financing options like HPE’s 90/9 Advantage program.

CSPs such as 2degrees have already leveraged HPE Private Cloud AI for sovereign, secure AI platforms that strengthen network operations and data governance.

Conclusion: A Strategic Partner for the AI Era

As telcos transform into AI-native digital service providers, HPE offers a complete, integrated, and secure infrastructure stack—from high-performance ProLiant servers and Juniper-powered AI-native networking to GreenLake cloud orchestration and Zero Trust security. By combining deep telco expertise with cutting-edge AI and automation, HPE helps CSPs reduce risk, lower TCO, simplify operations, and unlock new growth opportunities in an increasingly connected and intelligent world.

HPE’s Secure AI-native infrastructure is more than technology—it is a blueprint for resilient, efficient, and future-ready telco networks.