TREE NEWS update: Nvidia and Cisco have jointly introduced USFP (Ultra Small Form Factor Pluggable), a new pluggable optical module form factor designed to scale networking in AI factories. USFP is the first module to support 400Gb/s electrical signaling per lane and delivers up to 12.8Tb/s per module, letting AI builders connect more computing systems without adding network tiers while cutting power per bit. Bandwidth density is 4x and energy efficiency 1.3x versus existing 200Gb/s-per-lane modules. Nvidia and Cisco are working with TE Connectivity and Amphenol on a multi-source hardware ecosystem.
Nvidia, Cisco Launch USFP Pluggable Optical Module Form Factor for AI Factories
The signal here is less about raw speed than about consolidation of the optical supply chain around a single pluggable standard backed by the two vendors that dominate AI cluster design. Bringing TE Connectivity and Amphenol in early points to a multi-source strategy meant to avoid the module shortages that have bottlenecked deployments before. The real test is whether USFP becomes a genuine open ecosystem or a two-vendor reference design that other switch and optics makers feel compelled to adopt — that, and whether 400Gb/s-per-lane components arrive at volume, is the open question.
Generated by AI for reference only.
Share on WeChat
Open WeChat → Scan → then tap "…" to send to a chat or Moments.
Tap "…" in the top-right corner to send to a chat or share to Moments.