{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/nvidia-and-cisco-launch-400gb-s-usfp-transceiver-for-ai-data-centers","json":"https://digestai.news/story/nvidia-and-cisco-launch-400gb-s-usfp-transceiver-for-ai-data-centers.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/nvidia-and-cisco-launch-400gb-s-usfp-transceiver-for-ai-data-centers.md","slug":"nvidia-and-cisco-launch-400gb-s-usfp-transceiver-for-ai-data-centers","headline":"Nvidia and Cisco launch 400Gb/s USFP transceiver for AI data centers","summary":"Nvidia and Cisco introduced the **Ultra-Dense Small Form Factor Pluggable (USFP)** transceiver, a next-gen optical interface for data centers. The module supports **400Gb/s per lane**, with a total capacity of up to **12.8Tb/s**—four times faster than 200Gb/s interfaces—while improving power efficiency by **1.3x**. It is designed for AI workloads, scaling via **16 full-duplex lanes** in an octal form factor, with future expansion to **32 or more lanes** planned. The interface integrates with **SuperNIC** accelerator cards (using **RoCE**) and third-party modules from **TE Connectivity** and **Amphenol**, aiming for broader ecosystem adoption.\n\nCisco notes the USFP’s **two-step insertion design** reduces wear and improves signal integrity, handling up to **100 watts** without dedicated cooling. While full **12.8Tb/s** capacity remains a future goal, the first versions will support **1.6Tb/s endpoints** without adding network tiers. The companies emphasize its role in AI-driven data center growth, though Cisco acknowledges it fits into a broader mix of optical architectures.","keyPoints":["USFP supports **400Gb/s per lane**, with a max total of **12.8Tb/s**—four times faster than 200Gb/s interfaces","First versions use **16 full-duplex lanes**, with future scaling to **32+ lanes** for AI workloads","Third-party partners like **TE Connectivity** and **Amphenol** supply modules, connectors, and cages"],"whyItMatters":"The USFP addresses bottlenecks in AI data centers by enabling **12.8Tb/s** throughput with **1.3x power efficiency**, critical for training large models. Its modular design and **RoCE** support could reduce latency and cooling costs, but adoption depends on broader ecosystem buy-in.","category":{"slug":"hardware","name":"Hardware & Compute","url":"https://digestai.news/category/hardware"},"entities":{"companies":["Nvidia","Cisco","TE Connectivity","Amphenol"],"models":[],"people":[]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-15T07:09:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-15T07:09:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"techspot.com","title":"Nvidia and Cisco unveil next-gen network interface built for the AI data center boom","url":"https://techspot.com/news/114222-nvidia-cisco-unveil-next-gen-network-interface-built.html","publishedAt":"2026-10-15T07:09:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Nvidia and Cisco launch 400Gb/s USFP transceiver for AI data centers\", 15 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/nvidia-and-cisco-launch-400gb-s-usfp-transceiver-for-ai-data-centers","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Nvidia and Cisco launch 400Gb/s USFP transceiver for AI data centers","datePublished":"2026-10-15T07:09:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/nvidia-and-cisco-launch-400gb-s-usfp-transceiver-for-ai-data-centers"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}