Broadcom Challenges Nvidia with Open 800G Ethernet Chip for AI Infrastructure
Broadcom has unveiled Thor Ultra, the first 800G Ethernet chip adhering to the Ultra Ethernet Consortium specification. Analysts suggest it redefines AI fabric design by prioritizing open interoperability over raw throughput, offering an alternative to Nvidia’s ecosystem.
Broadcom’s Strategic Move in AI Networking
Broadcom has introduced Thor Ultra, a new networking chip designed to compete with Nvidia in powering data movement across AI clusters, according to company releases. Sources indicate it is the first 800G Ethernet network interface card built to the open Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) specification, targeting bottlenecks in large language model training. The chip’s focus on high-bandwidth, low-latency interconnects aims to address scalability challenges in hyperscale data centers.
