Tiny pluggable optical module boosts data center bandwidth 4x without extra hardware

What happened

NVIDIA and Cisco have announced plans for a new optical module that could deliver up to 12.8 terabits per second (Tbps) of capacity, offering four times the bandwidth density of existing 200-gigabit-per-second-per-lane technology for data center (a building full of computers that runs online services) networks. Called Ultra-Dense Small Form Factor Pluggable (USFP), the module is designed to support electrical signals operating at 400 gigabits per second (Gbps) per lane.

The technology is intended for large computing facilities that train and run artificial intelligence models. These systems require thousands of processors to exchange enormous amounts of data, placing growing demands on the networks connecting them.

NVIDIA and Cisco are developing USFP with connector manufacturers TE Connectivity and Amphenol. The companies plan to establish a common hardware standard that would allow multiple suppliers to produce compatible modules.

Key facts

• NVIDIA and Cisco have — announced: plans for a new optical module that could deliver up to 12.8 terabits per second (Tbps) of capacity, offering four times the bandwidth density of existing 200-gigabit-per-second-per-lane technology for data center networks