Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 11, Broadcom Inc. has introduced the Tomahawk 6 – Davisson (TH6-Davisson), its third-generation co-packaged optics (CPO) Ethernet switch, designed to enhance bandwidth, efficiency, and reliability for next-generation AI networks. The switch supports the growing demands of AI and hyperscale data centers with improved power efficiency and stable connectivity.

The TH6-Davisson delivers an industry-leading 102.4 Tbits/s of optically enabled switching capacity, doubling the bandwidth of existing CPO switches. This advancement sets a new standard for data center performance, addressing the need for higher bandwidth and lower energy consumption in AI-driven environments.

Utilizing TSMC’s Compact Universal Photonic Engine (COUPE) technology, the TH6-Davisson integrates optical engines with advanced multi-chip packaging. This design reduces signal conditioning needs, minimizes trace loss, and achieves a 70% reduction in optical interconnect power consumption—over 3.5 times lower than traditional pluggable optics. These improvements enhance energy efficiency for large-scale AI and data center operations.

“This switch addresses critical challenges in link stability, ensuring reliable performance for AI training workloads,” a Broadcom spokesperson noted. By integrating optical engines directly with the Ethernet switch, the TH6-Davisson eliminates variability from pluggable transceivers, improving link reliability and reducing interruptions that impact XPU and GPU utilization.

Operating at 200 Gbits/s per channel, the TH6-Davisson doubles the line rate and bandwidth of Broadcom’s previous TH5-Bailly CPO solution. It supports seamless connectivity with DR-based transceivers, NPO, and CPO optical interconnects, enabling integration with advanced NICs, XPUs, and fabric switches. The BCM78919 model supports clusters of up to 512 XPUs and over 100,000 XPUs in two-tier networks, featuring 16 × 6.4 Tbits/s Davisson DR optical engines and field-replaceable ELSFP laser modules.

Broadcom is already developing its fourth-generation CPO platform, aiming to double per-channel bandwidth to 400 Gbits/s while further improving energy efficiency. The TH6-Davisson complies with IEEE 802.3 standards and is interoperable with 400G and 800G systems, ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure.

The company has begun sampling the TH6-Davisson to early access customers and partners, marking a step toward broader adoption in AI and data center applications. This launch reinforces Broadcom’s commitment to advancing network performance, supporting the growing demands of AI-driven technologies with innovative, energy-efficient solutions.

The TH6-Davisson positions data centers to handle escalating computational needs while reducing environmental impact, aligning with industry trends toward sustainable, high-performance infrastructure.