Business Process Solutions

Broadcom unveils 400 G/lan optical DSP

11 March 2026
A graph of network switching with the Broadcom Taurus BCM83640 optical PAM-4 DSP. Source: Broadcom

Broadcom Inc.’s 3 nm 400 G/lane optical PAM-4 digital signal processor (DSP) is now available, designed for next generation artificial intelligence (AI) networks.

Called an industry first, the Taurus BCM83640 is designed for 1.6T transceiver solutions with the goal to meet the growing needs of AI data centers for bandwidth and low power consumption.

Broadcom said 400 G/lane technology is the next evolution of 200 G/lane architectures and will be a key step for scaling bandwidth in networking and AI infrastructure. Pluggable 1.6T modules using the Taurus DSP would double the bandwidth per optical lane when deployed. This would allow 102.4T switching capacity in 1RU system for bandwidth improvement density in AI optical interconnects, the company said.

The adoption of 400 G/lane optical interfaces would lay the groundwork for the future deployment of 3.2T modules with 400 G/lane electrical interfaces that would be needed to support next generation 204.8T switches and AI networks.

Features of the Taurus BCM83640 include:

  • Monolithic 3nm 1.6T (8:4) PAM-4 DSP with integrated laser driver
  • Interoperability with Broadcom’s 400G EML
  • Compliant with IEEE and OIF standards
  • Supports LR links
  • Supports optical modules from 1.6T to 3.2T

“Taurus is the industry's first 1.6T DSP-based on 400G/lane I/O that doubles the throughput per lane, enabling the next generation of 3.2T optical modules, but more importantly pushing the IMDD technology envelope into 400G/lane, further reducing power, and continuing our roadmap of providing cost optimized solutions for connectivity in AI and cloud networks,” said Vijay Janapaty, VP and GM of Broadcom’s Physical Layer Products Division.

To contact the author of this article, email PBrown@globalspec.com


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