TEF 2025: Ethernet at 400G per Lane: Standards & Challenges
Kent Lusted, Distinguished Architect at Synopsys, discusses next generation Ethernet for AI at TEF, highlighting his role as champion for an IEEE 802.3 project focused on 400G electrical and optical signaling for AI networks optimized for radix scale-out use cases. He emphasizes the need for collaboration among hyperscalers, standards organizations like OIF, UEC, and SNIA, and component suppliers to address three major challenges for 448G and 400G Ethernet: faster time to market, optimal use of available information and materials, and recognition of AI’s impact on daily life through search, recommendations, pattern recognition, and infrastructure.
The Ethernet Alliance held its Technology Exploration Forum (TEF) exploring Ethernet for AI in Mountain View, CA on December 2-3, 2025. The @NextGenInfra team was on the ground to capture thought leader perspectives on changes and evolution needed in Ethernet to support AI/ML workloads — both on the front-end and back-end (scale out).
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