Marvell is advancing short-reach interconnects for AI infrastructure with the launch of its 1.6T and 800G Alaska® A PAM4 DSPs for Active Electrical Cables (AECs), showcased at OFC 2025 in collaboration with major ecosystem partners including 3M, Amphenol, Broadex, Luxshare-Tech, and TE Connectivity. These new AEC solutions deliver the performance and reach required for next-generation 200G/lane and 100G/lane data center fabrics, enabling high-throughput copper connectivity at significantly reduced power and latency compared to optical alternatives.
The 1.6T Alaska A DSP, built on a 200G/lane SerDes, supports over 3 meters of reach on 32AWG cable—making it well-suited for in-rack AI and ML clusters where dense server-to-switch connectivity is critical. Meanwhile, the 800G DSP using 100G/lane SerDes enables 7-meter AECs, expanding copper’s role in rack-to-rack interconnects and outperforming the 2-meter limit of passive copper at this speed. These AECs offer ultra-low latency and improved energy efficiency, helping hyperscalers scale AI workloads while containing thermal and infrastructure costs.
With the AEC silicon market projected to grow at 61% annually to $1.3 billion by 2029, Marvell is positioning itself at the center of this transition. Through robust industry partnerships and the proven signal integrity of its Alaska DSPs, the company is enabling hyperscalers to move beyond the limitations of optics for short-reach links—unlocking greater flexibility, performance, and scalability in accelerated computing environments.
Key Points:
• Marvell 1.6T Alaska A DSP (200G/lane) supports >3m reach over 32AWG cable.
• Marvell 800G DSP (100G/lane) enables up to 7m copper interconnects—far exceeding passive copper limits.
• Ecosystem partners include 3M, Amphenol, Broadex, Luxshare-Tech, and TE Connectivity.
• AEC solutions offer lower latency and up to 90% lower power vs optical links.
• AEC market expected to hit $1.3B by 2029, growing 61% CAGR (650 Group).
“Enhanced copper connectivity is a critical link for optimizing infrastructure for performance and efficiency,” said Xi Wang, vice president and general manager, Connectivity Business Unit at Marvell.
