Rumor
Broadcom prioritizes copper connectivity over co-packaged optics for Tomahawk switches
Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 02:45 AM
Despite having Tomahawk co-packaged optics (CPO) switches ready for market, Broadcom appears to be prioritizing the extension of copper connectivity technology for high-speed data center networking.
Context
In a shift for high-scale networking, Broadcom is reportedly prioritizing copper connectivity over co-packaged optics (CPO) for its latest Tomahawk switches, despite the launch of its third-generation TH6-Davisson platform. While Broadcom announced the industry's first 102.4-Tbps CPO Ethernet switch in October 2025, the company is emphasizing the cost, latency, and power efficiency of copper cables for near-term AI infrastructure. This move benefits partners like Credo Technology Group, which dominates the Active Electrical Cable (AEC) market with an estimated 88% share.
The decision to "squeeze copper" suggests that while CPO technology is ready with 200G/lane capability, the ecosystem still favors the reliability of traditional pluggable and copper interconnects for clusters scaling to one million XPUs. Broadcom maintains a dual-track strategy, shipping the Tomahawk 6 series with support for both 100G/200G SerDes and CPO, ensuring flexibility as hyperscalers navigate the transition from electrical to optical fabrics.
Sources (7)
Broadcom Announces Third-Generation Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) Technology with 200G/lane Capability | Broadcom Inc.Broadcom Announces Tomahawk® 6 – Davisson, the Industry's First 102.4-Tbps Ethernet Switch with Co-Packaged OpticsCredo | We ConnectEarnings call transcript: Broadcom Q1 2026 earnings beat ...The Third Time Will Be The Charm For Broadcom Switch Co-Packaged OpticsBroadcom Ships Tomahawk 6-Davisson CPO Ethernet Switch, Doubling Bandwidth to 102.4 Tb/s for AI Fabrics - StorageReview.comBroadcom (AVGO) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
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