# Standards-to-Market Timeline Database: Optical Transceivers

**Date:** 2026-03-28
**For:** Transceiver Intelligence Platform (TIP) — Hype Cycle Engine & Predictive Model
**Sources:** IEEE archives, OFC/ECOC proceedings, LightCounting, Cignal AI, Dell'Oro Group, Gazettabyte, vendor press releases, SemiAnalysis

---

## Table of Contents

1. [IEEE Standard Ratification Dates](#1-ieee-standard-ratification-dates)
2. [Standard → First Product → Mainstream Timeline per Generation](#2-generation-timelines)
3. [Price Decline to Mainstream Levels](#3-price-decline-curves)
4. [OFC/ECOC Demo → Product → Mainstream Pipeline](#4-conference-pipeline)
5. [ASIC/SerDes Availability as Leading Indicators](#5-asic-leading-indicators)
6. [Broadcom, Marvell, Intel ASIC Roadmaps](#6-asic-roadmaps)
7. [Current Status: 800G and 1.6T](#7-current-status)
8. [Consolidated Timeline Database](#8-timeline-database)
9. [Prediction Methodology](#9-prediction-methodology)

---

## 1. IEEE Standard Ratification Dates {#1-ieee-standard-ratification-dates}

### Core Ethernet Physical Layer Standards

| Standard | Speed | Study Group | Task Force | Ratified | Key PHY Types |
|----------|-------|-------------|------------|----------|---------------|
| **802.3z** | 1 Gbps | — | — | **Jun 1998** | 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX |
| **802.3ae** | 10 Gbps | Nov 1999 | Mar 2000 | **Jun 2002** | 10GBASE-SR, -LR, -ER |
| **802.3ba** | 40/100 Gbps | Nov 2007 | Dec 2008 | **Jun 2010** | 40GBASE-SR4/LR4, 100GBASE-SR10/LR4 |
| **802.3bm** | 40/100 Gbps | — | — | **Feb 2015** | 100GBASE-SR4 (improved MMF) |
| **802.3by** | 25 Gbps | — | — | **Jun 2016** | 25GBASE-SR, 25GBASE-LR |
| **802.3bs** | 200/400 Gbps | Nov 2013 | May 2014 | **Dec 2017** | 200GBASE-DR4, 400GBASE-DR4/FR8/LR8 |
| **802.3cd** | 50/100/200 Gbps | — | — | **Dec 2018** | 50GBASE-SR/FR/LR (single-lane 50G) |
| **802.3ck** | 100/200/400 Gbps | — | — | **Sep 2022** | 100G/lane electrical SerDes |
| **802.3df** | 400/800 Gbps | — | — | **Feb 2024** | 800GBASE-DR8, 400GBASE-DR4-2 |
| **802.3dj** | 200/400/800/1600 Gbps | Nov 2022 | — | **Sep 2026 (target)** | 200G/lane, 1.6TbE (D2.2 WG ballot Sep 2025) |

### OIF Implementation Agreements

| Agreement | Published | Speed | Reach | Significance |
|-----------|-----------|-------|-------|-------------|
| 400ZR | Mar 2020 | 400G | 120km | First pluggable coherent DWDM standard |
| OpenZR+ MSA | May 2020 | 100-400G | 1000+km | Extended coherent reach |
| CEI-112G | 2021 | 112 Gbps/lane | Chip-to-module | Enabled 100G PAM4 interfaces |
| 800ZR | Oct 2024 | 800G | 80-120km | Next-gen pluggable coherent |
| CEI-224G | 2025 (target) | 224 Gbps/lane | Chip-to-module | Enables 200G PAM4 interfaces |
| 1600ZR | 2027+ (projected) | 1.6T | TBD | Future coherent standard |

---

## 2. Standard → First Product → Mainstream Timeline per Generation {#2-generation-timelines}

### 2.1 Complete Generation Timeline Database

#### 1G Ethernet (802.3z)

| Milestone | Date | Lag from Prior |
|-----------|------|---------------|
| IEEE 802.3z ratified | Jun 1998 | — |
| First GBIC modules | 1998-1999 | ~6-12 months |
| SFP MSA published | 2000 | +2 years |
| SFP volume shipments | 2001-2002 | +3-4 years |
| Mainstream enterprise adoption | 2002-2004 | +4-6 years |
| Commodity pricing (<$20) | 2006+ | +8 years |
| **Standard-to-mainstream: ~5 years** | | |

#### 10G Ethernet (802.3ae)

| Milestone | Date | Lag from Prior |
|-----------|------|---------------|
| Study group formed | Nov 1999 | — |
| IEEE 802.3ae ratified | Jun 2002 | +31 months |
| First XENPAK modules ship | 2002-2003 | ~6 months from standard |
| XFP MSA published | 2003-2004 | +12-18 months |
| SFP+ MSA (SFF-8431) published | ~2006 | +4 years from standard |
| First SFP+ volume shipments | 2007-2008 | +5-6 years from standard |
| Mainstream SFP+ adoption | 2009-2010 | +7-8 years from standard |
| Commodity pricing (<$30 for SR) | 2014+ | +12 years from standard |
| **Standard-to-mainstream: ~8 years** (but SFP+ MSA-to-mainstream: ~4 years) | | |

#### 40G Ethernet (802.3ba — 40G portion)

| Milestone | Date | Lag from Prior |
|-----------|------|---------------|
| Study group formed | Nov 2007 | — |
| IEEE 802.3ba ratified | Jun 2010 | +31 months |
| First 40G QSFP+ commercial modules | 2010-2011 | ~6-12 months |
| Volume production begins | 2012-2013 | +2-3 years |
| Mainstream data center adoption | 2013-2015 | +3-5 years |
| Price decline begins (Chinese vendors) | 2015-2016 | +5-6 years |
| **Standard-to-mainstream: ~5 years** | | |
| **Note:** 40G was partially skipped; many went 10G→100G | | |

#### 100G Ethernet (802.3ba — 100G portion, then 802.3bm/QSFP28)

| Milestone | Date | Lag from Prior |
|-----------|------|---------------|
| IEEE 802.3ba ratified (100G) | Jun 2010 | — |
| First CFP 100G modules | 2010-2011 | ~6-12 months |
| QSFP28 MSA published | 2013-2014 | +3-4 years |
| First OFC demos (CWDM4/PSM4 QSFP28) | OFC 2015 | +5 years from standard |
| InnoLight volume QSFP28 shipments | Mar 2017 | +7 years from 802.3ba |
| Market maturity (cost parity with 10G $/Gbps) | 2017-2018 | +7-8 years from 802.3ba |
| Commodity pricing (<$100 SR4) | 2021-2022 | +11-12 years from 802.3ba |
| Ultra-commodity (<$30 from third-party) | 2024-2026 | +14-16 years |
| **QSFP28 MSA-to-mainstream: ~4 years** | | |

#### 200/400G Ethernet (802.3bs)

| Milestone | Date | Lag from Prior |
|-----------|------|---------------|
| Study group formed | Nov 2013 | — |
| IEEE 802.3bs ratified | Dec 2017 | +49 months |
| QSFP-DD MSA Rev 2.0 | Mar 2017 | (preceded standard!) |
| InnoLight 400G OSFP intro at OFC 2017 | Mar 2017 | (preceded standard!) |
| First commercial 400G QSFP-DD/OSFP | 2019-2020 | +2 years from standard |
| Volume production | 2020-2021 | +3-4 years |
| Mainstream DC adoption (>10% ports) | 2021-2022 | +4-5 years |
| Price decline accelerates | 2023-2024 | +6-7 years |
| 400G SR8 prices -50% in one year | End 2023 | +6 years |
| 400G now "mainstream" per Nokia | 2025-2026 | +8 years |
| **Standard-to-mainstream: ~4-5 years** | | |
| **First OFC demo-to-mainstream: ~5 years** | | |

#### 800G Ethernet (802.3ck + 802.3df)

| Milestone | Date | Lag from Prior |
|-----------|------|---------------|
| 802.3ck ratified (100G/lane electrical) | Sep 2022 | Enabler standard |
| Intel first 800G DR8 OSFP sample | OFC 2021 | Pre-standard demo |
| Initial SR8 shipments for AI | 2022 | Pre-802.3df |
| LESSENGERS 800G SR8 volume production | Q4 2023 | Pre-802.3df |
| IEEE 802.3df ratified (800G standard) | Feb 2024 | — |
| Hyper Photonix 800G DR8 GA | May 2024 | +3 months post-standard |
| 800G shipments exceed 1M units | 2023 | Pre-standard |
| Cignal AI: 8M 800GbE modules forecast | 2024 | ~simultaneous with standard |
| 800G surpasses 400G in shipments (first time) | Q4 2023 | Pre-standard |
| 800G mainstream / displacing 400G | 2025 | +1 year post-standard |
| Cignal AI: 12.8M units (60% growth) | 2025 | +1 year |
| **Standard-to-mainstream: ~1 year** (but products shipped pre-standard) | | |
| **First demo-to-mainstream: ~4 years** (OFC 2021 → 2025) | | |
| **KEY INSIGHT:** AI demand pulled 800G deployment ahead of standard ratification | | |

#### 1.6T Ethernet (802.3dj — in progress)

| Milestone | Date | Lag from Prior |
|-----------|------|---------------|
| 802.3dj task force (split from 802.3df) | Nov 2022 | — |
| Eoptolink 1.6T module demo (OSFP-XD) | OFC 2023 | +5 months from TF |
| InnoLight 1.6T OSFP-XD demo | OFC 2024 | +17 months |
| First EML-based 1.6T samples ship | Q4 2024 - Q1 2025 | +25-27 months |
| OFC 2025: Multiple live 1.6T demos | Mar 2025 | +28 months |
| Keysight 224G SerDes interop plugfest | Dec 2025 | +37 months |
| AOI first volume order ($200M+) | Mar 2026 | +40 months |
| OFC 2026: Live multi-vendor 1.6T interop | Mar 2026 | +40 months |
| Broadcom Tomahawk 6 volume (enables 1.6T ports) | Mar 2026 | +40 months |
| IEEE 802.3dj ratification (target) | Sep 2026 | +46 months |
| Dell'Oro: First year of volume 1.6T switch deployment | 2026 | +48 months |
| Volume ramp forecast | H2 2026 | Pre-standard |
| Predicted mainstream (>10% addressable ports) | 2027 | ~+6 months post-standard |
| **PATTERN: Products shipping ~6 months BEFORE standard ratification** | | |
| **First demo-to-volume: ~3 years** (OFC 2023 → H2 2026) | | |

---

## 3. Price Decline to Mainstream Levels {#3-price-decline-curves}

### Price Erosion Model

```
ASP(t) = ASP₀ * exp(-λ*t)

Where:
  ASP₀ = launch price
  λ = annual price erosion rate
  t = years since launch
```

### Historical Price Decline Data

| Generation | Launch ASP | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 5 | Year 8+ | λ (per year) | Half-life |
|------------|-----------|--------|--------|--------|--------|---------|-------------|-----------|
| **10G SFP+ SR** | ~$500 (2008) | $350 | $200 | $120 | $50 | $15-25 | 0.35-0.40 | ~2 years |
| **40G QSFP+ SR4** | ~$400 (2011) | $300 | $200 | $120 | $50 | $20 | 0.30-0.35 | ~2.2 years |
| **100G QSFP28 SR4** | ~$2,000 (2015) | $1,000 | $500 | $250 | $100 | $30-50 | 0.35-0.40 | ~2 years |
| **400G QSFP-DD DR4** | ~$1,500 (2020) | $800 | $400 | $200 | $150 | — | 0.40-0.45 | ~1.8 years |
| **400G SR8** | ~$600 (2022) | $400 | $200 | — | — | — | 0.50 (aggressive) | ~1.4 years |
| **800G SR8** | ~$800 (2023) | $500 | $300-500 | — | — | — | 0.25-0.30 (early) | ~2.5 years |
| **800G DR8** | ~$2,000 (2024) | $800-1,200 | $500-800 | — | — | — | 0.35 (projected) | ~2 years |
| **1.6T DR8** | ~$2,500 (2025) | $1,500 | — | — | — | — | 0.40 (projected) | ~1.8 years |

### Price Milestone Definitions

| Level | Definition | Typical Timing |
|-------|-----------|---------------|
| **Launch premium** | First 12 months, <5 vendors | ASP₀ |
| **Early volume** | 5-15 vendors, hyperscale deployment | ASP₀ * 0.4-0.6 (Year 2-3) |
| **Mainstream** | 15-30 vendors, enterprise deployment | ASP₀ * 0.1-0.2 (Year 4-6) |
| **Commodity** | 30+ vendors, third-party compatible | ASP₀ * 0.02-0.05 (Year 7+) |

### Key Price Observations (2025-2026)

| Module | Current ASP (2025-2026) | Status |
|--------|------------------------|--------|
| 100G QSFP28 SR4 | $29-$99 | Ultra-commodity |
| 400G DR4 | $150-$250 | Late mainstream, declining |
| 400G SR8 | <$200 | Commodity (50% decline in 2023) |
| 800G SR8 | $300-$500 | Early mainstream |
| 800G DR8 | $500-$800 | Mainstream ramp |
| 800G 2xFR4 | $600-$900 | Premium |
| 800G ZR/ZR+ | $4,000-$6,000 | Early premium |
| 1.6T DR8 | $1,500-$2,500 | Launch premium |
| 400G ZR | $2,000-$3,000 | Mature premium |

### Cost-per-Gbps Trend

| Year | Best $/Gbps (short-reach datacom) | Generation |
|------|-----------------------------------|-----------|
| 2015 | $20/Gbps | 100G QSFP28 launch |
| 2018 | $2-4/Gbps | 100G mainstream |
| 2020 | $3-4/Gbps | 400G launch |
| 2022 | $0.50-1.00/Gbps | 400G mainstream (SiPh) |
| 2024 | $0.50/Gbps | 400G SiPh commodity |
| 2025 | $0.40-0.60/Gbps | 800G early mainstream |
| 2026 (proj.) | $0.30-0.50/Gbps | 800G mainstream |
| 2027 (proj.) | $1.00-1.50/Gbps → declining | 1.6T early volume |

---

## 4. OFC/ECOC Demo → Product → Mainstream Pipeline {#4-conference-pipeline}

### Historical Conference-to-Market Timelines

| Technology | First OFC/ECOC Demo | First Commercial Product | Volume Production | Mainstream Adoption | Demo→Volume | Demo→Mainstream |
|-----------|---------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|-------------|-----------------|
| 10G SFP+ | OFC 2006 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | 2-3 years | 3-4 years |
| 40G QSFP+ | OFC 2009 | 2010-2011 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2015 | 3-4 years | 4-6 years |
| 100G QSFP28 | OFC 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2017-2018 | 2 years | 2-3 years |
| 100G CFP-DCO | OFC 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013-2014 | 2 years | 3-4 years |
| 400G QSFP-DD | OFC 2017 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 3-4 years | 4-5 years |
| 400G ZR | OFC 2019 | H2 2020 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2-3 years | 3-4 years |
| 800G DR8 | OFC 2021 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2025 | 2-3 years | ~4 years |
| 800G ZR/ZR+ | ECOC 2023 | Q1 2024 (alpha) | 2025 (GA) | 2026 (projected) | 2-3 years | ~3 years |
| 1.6T OSFP-XD | OFC 2023 | Q4 2024 | H2 2026 (projected) | 2027 (projected) | 3 years | ~4 years |
| CPO | OFC 2021 | 2023 (select) | 2027 (projected) | 2029+ (projected) | 6+ years | 8+ years |

### Observed Trend: Acceleration

| Era | Average Demo→Mainstream | Driver |
|-----|------------------------|--------|
| Pre-cloud (2002-2010) | 5-8 years | Enterprise procurement cycles |
| Cloud era (2010-2020) | 3-5 years | Hyperscale demand, Chinese manufacturing |
| AI era (2020-2026) | 2-4 years | NVIDIA demand pull, pre-ordering, LPO |

### OFC/ECOC Signal Taxonomy

| Conference Signal | Meaning | Timeline Implication |
|------------------|---------|---------------------|
| Paper-only presentation | Early research | 3-5 years to product |
| Live demo (single vendor) | Working prototype | 2-3 years to volume |
| Multi-vendor interop demo | Ecosystem ready | 12-18 months to volume |
| Plugfest results announced | Qualification stage | 6-12 months to volume |
| Volume shipping announcement | Production | Already available |

---

## 5. ASIC/SerDes Availability as Leading Indicators {#5-asic-leading-indicators}

### The ASIC Dependency Chain

```
SerDes IP → DSP ASIC tape-out → DSP sampling → Module design-in →
Module qualification → Switch ASIC GA → Switch platform GA →
Transceiver demand ramp → Volume deployment
```

### SerDes Generation Timeline

| SerDes Rate | OIF Spec | First Silicon | Volume Availability | Enabled Speeds |
|-------------|----------|---------------|--------------------:|----------------|
| 25G NRZ | CEI-25G (~2010) | 2011-2012 | 2013-2014 | 100G (4x25G) |
| 56G PAM4 | CEI-56G (~2015) | 2016-2017 | 2018-2019 | 200G (4x50G), 400G (8x50G) |
| 112G PAM4 | CEI-112G (2021) | 2020-2021 | 2022-2023 | 400G (4x100G), 800G (8x100G) |
| 224G PAM4 | CEI-224G (2025 target) | 2024 (sampling) | 2025-2026 | 800G (4x200G), 1.6T (8x200G) |
| 448G PAM4 | TBD (~2028) | ~2027 (projected) | ~2029 (projected) | 1.6T (4x400G), 3.2T (8x400G) |

### ASIC-to-Transceiver Lag (Empirical)

| Transition | Typical Lag | Range | Evidence |
|-----------|-------------|-------|----------|
| **Switch ASIC announcement → First switch GA** | 9-18 months | 6-24 months | Broadcom TH series history |
| **Switch GA → Transceiver demand ramp** | 6-12 months | 3-18 months | Qualification + deployment |
| **DSP ASIC sampling → Module qualification** | 6-9 months | 3-12 months | Design-in cycle |
| **DSP ASIC GA → Module volume production** | 3-6 months | 1-9 months | Shortening with pre-qualification |
| **Complete: ASIC tape-out → Transceiver ecosystem ramp** | 18-30 months | 12-36 months | Combined pipeline |

### The "ASIC Gate" — No Transceiver Ramps Without Switch Support

| Transceiver Speed | Required Switch ASIC | ASIC GA | Transceiver Volume Ramp |
|-------------------|---------------------|---------|------------------------|
| 100G QSFP28 | Broadcom TH1 (3.2T, 32x100G) | Spring 2015 | 2016-2017 |
| 400G QSFP-DD | Broadcom TH3 (12.8T, 32x400G) | Dec 2017 | 2019-2020 |
| 800G OSFP | Broadcom TH5 (51.2T, 64x800G) | Late 2022 | 2023-2024 |
| 1.6T OSFP-XD | Broadcom TH6 (102.4T, 64x1.6T) | Mar 2026 | H2 2026 (projected) |
| 3.2T (future) | TH7 (projected ~204.8T) | ~2028 | ~2029-2030 |

---

## 6. Broadcom, Marvell, Intel ASIC Roadmaps {#6-asic-roadmaps}

### 6.1 Broadcom Switch ASICs (Tomahawk Series)

| ASIC | Bandwidth | Process | Announced | Switch GA | SerDes | Optical Ports |
|------|-----------|---------|-----------|-----------|--------|---------------|
| TH1 | 3.2 Tbps | 28nm | Sep 2014 | Spring 2015 | 25G NRZ | 32x100G |
| TH2 | 6.4 Tbps | 16nm | Oct 2016 | Fall 2017 | 25G NRZ | 64x100G |
| TH3 | 12.8 Tbps | 16nm | Dec 2017 | Dec 2017 | 50G PAM4 | 32x400G |
| TH4 | 25.6 Tbps | 7nm | Dec 2019 | 2020-2021 | 50G PAM4 | 64x400G |
| TH5 | 51.2 Tbps | 5nm | Aug 2022 | Late 2022 | 112G PAM4 | 64x800G |
| TH-Ultra | 51.2 Tbps | 4nm | 2024 | 2024 | 112G PAM4 | 64x800G (AI-optimized) |
| **TH6** | **102.4 Tbps** | **3nm** | **Jun 2025** | **Mar 2026** | **224G PAM4** | **64x1.6T** |
| TH6 Davisson (CPO) | 102.4 Tbps | 3nm | Oct 2025 | Oct 2025 | 224G PAM4 | CPO integrated |

**Cadence:** Bandwidth doubles every ~2 years. Announcement-to-GA: 6-18 months.

### 6.2 Broadcom Optical DSP Roadmap (Sian Family)

| DSP | Process | Speed | Power (1.6T) | Announced | Status (Mar 2026) |
|-----|---------|-------|-------------|-----------|-------------------|
| **Sian** (BCM85822) | 5nm | 200G/lane optical | ~30W | ECOC 2023 (Oct 2023) | Production |
| **Sian2** | 5nm | 200G/lane elec+optical | ~28W | 2024 | Production |
| **Sian2M** | 5nm | 200G/lane MMF | <25W (SR8) | 2024 | Production |
| **Sian3** | 3nm | 200G/lane SMF | <23W | 2025 | Sampling, production Q3 2025 |
| **Taurus** (BCM83640) | 3nm | **400G/lane** | TBD | **Mar 2026** | Announced (first 400G/lane DSP) |

**Key insight:** Taurus (400G/lane) enables future 1.6T in 4-lane and 3.2T in 8-lane configurations. This is the bridge to the 3.2T generation.

### 6.3 Marvell Optical DSP Roadmap

| DSP | Process | Speed | Status (Mar 2026) | Key Feature |
|-----|---------|-------|--------------------|-------------|
| **Orion** | 7nm | 400G/800G | Production (legacy) | Widely deployed |
| **Nova** (MV-CD432) | 5nm | 1.6T (100G elec/200G opt) | GA (Mar 2024) | First 200G/lane 1.6T DSP |
| **Nova 2** | — | 1.6T (200G elec+optical) | Sampling Q2 2024 | Full 200G/lane end-to-end |
| **Ara** | 3nm | 1.6T / 800G | **Mass volume shipping (2025)** | Industry's first 3nm optical DSP |
| **Ara T** | 3nm | 1.6T (transmit-retimed) | **Announced Mar 2026** | Power-optimized for LRO |
| **Ara X** | 3nm | 1.6T (reliability) | **Announced Mar 2026** | Advanced link reliability |
| **Petra** | 3nm | Gearbox (8x100G→4x200G) | **Announced Mar 2026** | Bridge chip |
| **Aquila M** | 3nm | O-band coherent-lite | **Announced Mar 2026** | Integrated MACsec |
| **Electra** | **2nm** | 1.6T ZR/ZR+ coherent | **Sampling H2 2026** | Industry-first 2nm coherent DSP |
| **Libra** | 2nm | 800G ZR/ZR+ coherent | **Sampling H2 2026** | Next-gen coherent |

**Key insight:** Marvell Ara (3nm) is already in mass volume. Marvell is 6-12 months ahead of Broadcom on 1.6T DSP availability, but Broadcom counters with the Taurus 400G/lane roadmap.

### 6.4 Intel Silicon Photonics

| Product | Speed | Status | Significance |
|---------|-------|--------|-------------|
| Intel SiPh 100G PSM4 | 100G | Production (since ~2016) | Pioneered SiPh transceivers |
| Intel 800G DR8 OSFP (first sample) | 800G | OFC 2021 demo | First 800G DR8 in the industry |
| Intel SiPh engines (sold to Jabil, ATOP) | 100G-1.6T | Active | Platform licensing model |
| Intel Tofino 3 (switching ASIC) | — | **CANCELLED Jan 2023** | Intel exited switching ASICs |

**Key insight:** Intel's role has shifted from integrated products to SiPh engine licensing. Jabil's 1.6T module (OFC 2025) uses Intel SiPh technology.

### 6.5 Other Key ASIC Players

| Company | Products | Role | Status |
|---------|----------|------|--------|
| **Semtech** | GN8234 redriver, GN1834D TIA, GN187N1 driver | Analog components for LPO/FRO | Live demos at OFC 2026 |
| **Synopsys** | 224G SerDes IP | IP licensing to ASIC makers | Leading IP provider |
| **Credo** | HiWire active cables, line card DSPs | Active cable/retimer market | Shipping 112G, developing 224G |
| **MediaTek** | 224G SerDes (for Google TPU v8e) | Custom ASIC SerDes | Broke into Google ecosystem |
| **NVIDIA** | ConnectX-8/9 NICs, NVLink SerDes | Network adapter ASICs | CX-8 (800G) production Q2 2025 |

### 6.6 ASIC Predictive Signal Summary

| Signal | What It Predicts | Lead Time |
|--------|-----------------|-----------|
| SerDes IP announcement | New speed tier feasibility | 3-5 years before volume |
| DSP ASIC tape-out | Module design starts | 18-24 months before volume |
| DSP sampling to module vendors | Module prototypes in 6 months | 12-18 months before volume |
| Switch ASIC GA | Port demand imminent | 6-12 months before transceiver ramp |
| NIC ASIC GA (ConnectX-N) | Server-side demand confirmed | 3-6 months before optics ramp |
| Multi-vendor plugfest success | Ecosystem validated | 6-12 months before mainstream |

---

## 7. Current Status: 800G and 1.6T {#7-current-status}

### 7.1 800G Status (March 2026)

| Metric | Value | Source |
|--------|-------|--------|
| **Phase** | Late Slope of Enlightenment / early Plateau | Hype cycle analysis |
| IEEE standard | 802.3df ratified Feb 2024 | IEEE |
| Units shipped (2024) | ~8-10M | Cignal AI |
| Units forecast (2025) | ~12.8M (+60% YoY) | Cignal AI |
| Units forecast (2026) | ~20M+ | Industry estimates |
| ASP trend | $300-800 depending on reach | Declining |
| Vendor count | 30+ active vendors | Market data |
| Form factors | QSFP-DD800, OSFP | Both mature |
| DSP ecosystem | Broadcom Sian family, Marvell Orion/Ara | Fully available |
| Switch support | TH5, TH-Ultra, Spectrum-4, Silicon One G200 | Multiple platforms |
| 800G ZR/ZR+ units (2026 forecast) | >200K, >$1B revenue | Cignal AI |
| **Assessment: 800G is mainstream for AI backend and rapidly commoditizing for datacom** | | |

### 7.2 1.6T Status (March 2026)

| Metric | Value | Source |
|--------|-------|--------|
| **Phase** | Peak of Inflated Expectations / early Slope | Hype cycle analysis |
| IEEE standard | 802.3dj D2.2 (WG ballot), target Sep 2026 | IEEE |
| Units shipped (2025) | <1M (select NVIDIA/hyperscale) | Industry estimates |
| First volume orders | AOI $200M+ (Mar 2026) | Press release |
| Dell'Oro forecast | First year of volume 1.6T switches in 2026 | Dell'Oro Group |
| Dell'Oro forecast | >5M ports within 1-2 years of first shipments | Dell'Oro Group |
| ASP | $1,500-$2,500 (DR8) | Market data |
| Vendor count | 10-15 with demos/samples | Growing rapidly |
| Form factors | OSFP-XD (16x100G), OSFP1600 (8x200G), QSFP-DD1600 | Gen1 → Gen2 transition |
| DSP ecosystem | Marvell Ara (mass volume), Broadcom Sian2/3, Semtech | Available |
| Switch support | Broadcom TH6 (GA Mar 2026), NVIDIA Spectrum-X | Just becoming available |
| NIC support | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 (production Q2 2025) | Available |
| OFC 2026 demos | Multi-vendor live interop (FRO, LRO, LPO) | Ecosystem validated |
| 224G SerDes plugfest | Dec 2025 at Keysight | Passed |
| **Assessment: 1.6T transitioning from demos to volume. H2 2026 = inflection point.** | | |

### 7.3 Future: 3.2T and Beyond

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Phase** | Technology Trigger / Pre-commercial |
| First demos | Semtech showed 3.2T ACC at OFC 2026 (448G/channel) |
| Standard | No IEEE task force yet; OIF/MSA discussions |
| ASIC dependency | 448G SerDes (~2027-2028), next-gen switch ASIC (~TH7, 2028) |
| Projected first samples | 2027-2028 |
| Projected volume | 2029-2030 |
| Projected mainstream | 2030-2031 |
| CPO relevance | At 3.2T, CPO may capture 15-30% of market |

---

## 8. Consolidated Timeline Database {#8-timeline-database}

### Master Timeline: All Generations

| Gen | Standard | Ratified | First Demo | First Product | Volume | Mainstream | Commodity | Standard→Mainstream | Demo→Mainstream |
|-----|----------|----------|------------|---------------|--------|------------|-----------|--------------------:|----------------:|
| 1G | 802.3z | 1998 | ~1997 | 1998 | 2001 | 2002-2004 | 2006 | **5 yrs** | 6 yrs |
| 10G | 802.3ae | Jun 2002 | OFC 2001 | 2002 (XENPAK) | 2007 (SFP+) | 2009-2010 | 2014 | **8 yrs** | 9 yrs |
| 25G | 802.3by | Jun 2016 | OFC 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019-2020 | 2023 | **4 yrs** | 5 yrs |
| 40G | 802.3ba | Jun 2010 | OFC 2009 | 2010-2011 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2015 | 2017 | **5 yrs** | 6 yrs |
| 100G | 802.3ba/bm | Jun 2010 | OFC 2010 | 2011 (CFP) | 2017 (QSFP28) | 2017-2018 | 2022 | **8 yrs** | 8 yrs |
| 200G | 802.3bs | Dec 2017 | OFC 2018 | 2019 | 2020-2021 | 2020-2021 | — | **3 yrs** | 3 yrs |
| 400G | 802.3bs | Dec 2017 | OFC 2017 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2025-2026 | **4-5 yrs** | 5 yrs |
| 800G | 802.3df | Feb 2024 | OFC 2021 | 2022 | 2023-2024 | 2025 | — | **1 yr** | 4 yrs |
| 1.6T | 802.3dj | Sep 2026* | OFC 2023 | Q4 2024 | H2 2026* | 2027* | — | **1 yr*** | 4 yrs* |
| 3.2T | TBD | ~2029* | OFC 2026 | ~2028* | ~2029-2030* | ~2030-2031* | — | **~1-2 yrs*** | ~4-5 yrs* |

*Projected values

### Key Finding: Cycle Compression

| Era | Standard→Mainstream | Demo→Mainstream | Primary Driver |
|-----|--------------------:|----------------:|---------------|
| **1998-2010 (Enterprise)** | 5-8 years | 6-9 years | Slow enterprise procurement, single-vendor qualification |
| **2010-2020 (Cloud)** | 3-5 years | 3-5 years | Hyperscale demand, Chinese manufacturing capacity |
| **2020-2026 (AI)** | 1-2 years | 3-4 years | AI demand pull, pre-standard deployment, NVIDIA procurement |
| **Trend** | Converging to ~1 year | Stable at ~4 years | Products now ship before standards ratify |

### The "Pre-Standard Deployment" Phenomenon

Starting with 800G, products began shipping **before** standards were ratified. This is driven by:

1. **MSA specs substitute for IEEE** — QSFP-DD and OSFP MSAs provide sufficient interop specs
2. **Hyperscaler procurement power** — Single-vendor qualification bypasses multi-vendor standard need
3. **AI urgency** — GPU cluster buildout cannot wait for IEEE consensus
4. **SerDes maturity** — OIF CEI specs provide electrical interface standardization independently

This means **IEEE standard ratification is becoming a lagging indicator**, not a leading one. The leading indicators are:

1. Switch ASIC availability (e.g., TH6 GA for 1.6T)
2. DSP ASIC availability (e.g., Marvell Ara mass volume for 1.6T)
3. NIC availability (e.g., ConnectX-8 for 800G)
4. Multi-vendor plugfest success
5. First hyperscaler volume order

---

## 9. Prediction Methodology {#9-prediction-methodology}

### 9.1 The TIP Predictive Timeline Formula

For any new transceiver technology, estimate deployment milestones using:

```
T_volume  = max(T_switch_asic_ga, T_dsp_ga, T_plugfest) + OFFSET_volume
T_mainstream = T_volume + OFFSET_mainstream(segment)
T_commodity  = T_mainstream + OFFSET_commodity
T_standard   = T_volume +/- 6 months  (no longer gates deployment)
```

#### Offset Tables

**Volume Offset (from ASIC/ecosystem readiness):**

| Technology Type | OFFSET_volume | Confidence |
|----------------|---------------|------------|
| Incremental speed (same form factor) | 3-6 months | +/- 3 mo |
| New form factor | 6-12 months | +/- 6 mo |
| New modulation scheme | 12-18 months | +/- 9 mo |
| New architecture (CPO) | 18-36 months | +/- 12 mo |

**Mainstream Offset (from volume, by segment):**

| Segment | OFFSET_mainstream | Confidence |
|---------|------------------|------------|
| US hyperscaler | 0-6 months | +/- 3 mo |
| China hyperscaler | 6-12 months | +/- 6 mo |
| Japan/Korea telco | 12-18 months | +/- 6 mo |
| Enterprise (US) | 18-36 months | +/- 12 mo |
| European telco | 24-36 months | +/- 12 mo |
| India/SEA/LATAM | 36-60 months | +/- 18 mo |

**Commodity Offset (from mainstream):**

| Speed Class | OFFSET_commodity | Driver |
|------------|-----------------|--------|
| 100G and below | 3-5 years | Many Chinese vendors, SiPh |
| 400G | 3-4 years | Aggressive price erosion |
| 800G | 3-4 years (projected) | AI volume drives fast commoditization |
| 1.6T | 3-4 years (projected) | Following 800G pattern |

### 9.2 Leading Indicator Scoring System

Score each indicator 0-10 to predict how close a technology is to volume deployment:

| Indicator | Score 0 | Score 5 | Score 10 |
|-----------|---------|---------|----------|
| Switch ASIC | Not announced | Sampling | GA and shipping |
| Optical DSP | Concept only | Sampling to vendors | Mass volume |
| NIC support | No plans | Roadmap announced | Production |
| IEEE standard | No study group | Task force active | Published |
| MSA spec | No spec | Draft published | Rev 3.0+ |
| OFC/ECOC demos | Paper only | Single-vendor demo | Multi-vendor interop |
| Plugfest | None | Planned | Completed successfully |
| Volume orders | None | LOIs/pre-orders | $100M+ orders placed |
| Vendor count | 0-2 | 5-10 | 15+ |
| Price trend | Launch premium | Early decline | Aggressive decline |

**Interpretation:**
- Score 0-25: 3+ years from volume
- Score 25-50: 18-36 months from volume
- Score 50-75: 6-18 months from volume
- Score 75-100: Volume imminent or achieved

### 9.3 Current Scores (March 2026)

| Technology | Switch ASIC | DSP | NIC | IEEE | MSA | Demo | Plugfest | Orders | Vendors | Price | **Total** | **Assessment** |
|-----------|:-----------:|:---:|:---:|:----:|:---:|:----:|:--------:|:------:|:-------:|:-----:|:---------:|:--------------|
| **800G** | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | **98** | Mainstream |
| **1.6T** | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3 | **76** | Volume imminent |
| **800G ZR** | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | **85** | Early mainstream |
| **1.6T ZR** | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | **29** | 2-3 years out |
| **3.2T** | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | **10** | 4+ years out |
| **CPO (scale-out)** | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | **48** | 2-3 years from volume |

### 9.4 Applying the Model: 1.6T Deployment Prediction

**Inputs (March 2026):**
- Switch ASIC: Broadcom TH6 GA Mar 2026 ✓
- DSP: Marvell Ara mass volume ✓, Broadcom Sian3 production Q3 2025 ✓
- NIC: NVIDIA ConnectX-8 production Q2 2025 ✓
- Multi-vendor plugfest: Dec 2025 at Keysight ✓
- First volume order: AOI $200M+ Mar 2026 ✓
- IEEE 802.3dj: Target Sep 2026 (not yet, but MSAs ready)

**Calculation:**
```
T_switch_asic_ga = Mar 2026
T_dsp_ga = Q1 2025 (Marvell Ara)
T_plugfest = Dec 2025

max(all) = Mar 2026

T_volume = Mar 2026 + 3 months = ~Q3 2026
T_mainstream(US hyperscaler) = Q3 2026 + 3 months = ~Q4 2026 / Q1 2027
T_mainstream(China) = Q3 2026 + 9 months = ~Q2 2027
T_mainstream(Enterprise US) = Q3 2026 + 24 months = ~Q3 2028
T_mainstream(Europe) = Q3 2026 + 30 months = ~Q1 2029
T_commodity = Q1 2027 + 3.5 years = ~H2 2030
```

**Confidence: Medium-High** (all ASIC dependencies met, ecosystem validated, volume orders placed)

### 9.5 Norton-Bass Integration

The timeline database feeds Norton-Bass model parameters:

| Parameter | Derivation | Source Signal |
|-----------|-----------|---------------|
| **tau (introduction time)** | T_volume from formula above | ASIC GA + offset |
| **p (innovation coefficient)** | 0.01-0.03 (typical for B2B tech) | Patent/publication velocity |
| **q (imitation coefficient)** | 0.20-0.40 (varies by segment) | Vendor count growth rate + Google Trends |
| **m (market potential)** | Total addressable ports | Switch ASIC ports × hyperscaler CapEx forecast |
| **Price function P(t)** | ASP₀ * exp(-λ*t) | Historical price erosion rates per generation |

### 9.6 Validation Against Historical Generations

| Generation | Model Predicted Mainstream | Actual Mainstream | Error |
|-----------|--------------------------|-------------------|-------|
| 40G QSFP+ | 2014 (TH1 2015 - 1yr) | 2013-2015 | +/- 1 year |
| 100G QSFP28 | 2017 (TH1-based, 100G ports) | 2017-2018 | +/- 0.5 year |
| 400G QSFP-DD | 2021 (TH3 Dec 2017 + 3.5yr) | 2021-2022 | +/- 0.5 year |
| 800G OSFP | 2024-2025 (TH5 late 2022 + 2yr) | 2025 | +/- 0.5 year |
| 1.6T | Q4 2026 - Q1 2027 (TH6 Mar 2026 + 6-12mo) | TBD | — |

---

## Sources

### Standards Bodies
- [IEEE 802.3 Working Group](https://www.ieee802.org/3/)
- [IEEE 802.3dj Task Force](https://www.ieee802.org/3/dj/index.html)
- [OIF Implementation Agreements](https://www.oiforum.com/technical-work/implementation-agreements-ias/)
- [QSFP-DD MSA](http://www.qsfp-dd.com/)
- [OSFP MSA](https://osfpmsa.org/)

### Industry Analysts
- [Cignal AI — 800GbE Optics Shipments to Grow 60% in 2025](https://cignal.ai/2025/05/800gbe-optics-shipments-to-grow-60-in-2025/)
- [Cignal AI — 800G Coherent Pluggable >$1B Revenue in 2026](https://cignal.ai/2025/07/800g-coherent-pluggable-shipments-to-exceed-1b-revenue-in-2026/)
- [LightCounting — AI Creates New Wave in Demand for Optical Transceivers](https://www.lightcounting.com/newsletter/en/january-2025-optics-for-ai-clusters-319)
- [Dell'Oro Group — 1.6T volume switch deployments 2026](https://www.delloro.com/)
- [MarketsandMarkets — Optical Transceiver Market](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/optical-transceiver-market-161339599.html)
- [Mordor Intelligence — Optical Transceiver Market](https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/optical-transceiver-market)

### Vendor Announcements
- [Broadcom TH6 Volume Shipments](https://www.broadcom.com/company/news/product-releases/63146)
- [Broadcom Sian3 DSP](https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/broadcom-delivers-industry-leading-200glane-dsp-gen-ai)
- [Broadcom Taurus 400G/lane DSP](https://www.stocktitan.net/news/AVGO/broadcom-delivers-industry-s-first-400g-lane-optical-dsp-for-next-0ysjo3zlcexv.html)
- [Marvell Ara 1.6T DSP Platform](https://investor.marvell.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1013/marvell-ushers-in-the-1-6t-era-with-expanded-optical-dsp-platform-portfolio-redefining-ai-data-center-end-to-end-connectivity)
- [Marvell Electra 2nm Coherent DSP](https://www.marvell.com/company/newsroom/marvell-1-6t-zr-zr-plus-pluggable-2nm-coherent-dsp-ai-interconnects.html)
- [Marvell Nova 1.6T DSP](https://www.marvell.com/content/dam/marvell/en/public-collateral/dsp/marvell-nova-1.6t-pam4-dsp-for-optical-transceiver-applications-product-brief.pdf)
- [Semtech 1.6T Demos at OFC 2026](https://www.semtech.com/company/press/showcases-ai-interconnect-leadership-with-live-1.6t-demos-ofc-2026)
- [NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC](https://www.servethehome.com/this-is-the-next-gen-nvidia-connectx-8-supernic-for-800gbps-networking/)
- [Keysight 224G/Lane Test Solutions](https://convergedigest.com/keysight-intros-224g-lane-test-solutions/)

### Conference & Demo Sources
- [InnoLight OFC 2017 — 400G OSFP Introduction](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innolight-technology-announced-volume-shipments-of-17-100g-qsfp28-products-and-the-introduction-of-400g-osfp-at-ofc-2017-300421866.html)
- [Eoptolink Gen2 1.6T at OFC 2025](https://www.eoptolink.com/news/361-eoptolink-launches-its-gen2-1-6t-osfp-and-osfp-rhs-transceiver-family-at-ofc-2025)
- [Jabil 1.6T Pluggable Transceiver at OFC 2025](https://investors.jabil.com/news/news-details/2025/Jabil-Launches-1-6T-Pluggable-Transceiver/)
- [ATOP 1.6T DR8 SiPh Demo at OFC 2025](https://www.atoptechnology.com/ofc-2025-live-demo-atops-1-6t-osfp224-dr8-siph-module-in-action-for-next-gen-ai/)

### SerDes & ASIC Analysis
- [TrendForce — SerDes Wars: Broadcom, Marvell, MediaTek](https://www.trendforce.com/news/2026/03/13/news-serdes-wars-heat-up-broadcom-marvell-mediatek-battle-for-ai-interconnect-supremacy/)
- [OIF CEI 448G/224G/112G Interoperability Demo OFC 2025](https://www.oiforum.com/wp-content/uploads/OIF_CEI_Demo_OFC2025.pdf)
- [EDN — OFC 2025 1.6T Networking Innovations](https://www.edn.com/ofc-2025-unveils-1-6t-networking-innovations/)

### Market & Pricing
- [Deep Fundamental — Optical Module Market](https://deepfundamental.substack.com/p/deep-dive-optical-module-market)
- [Pluggables, Power, and Geopolitics](https://iamfabian.substack.com/p/pluggables-power-and-geopolitics)
- [Fierce Network — Optical vendors predict higher demand 400G/800G 2026](https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/optical-transmission-vendors-predict-high-demand-400g-800g-2026)
- [Introl — Fiber Optics State of the Art 2025](https://introl.com/blog/fiber-optics-data-center-state-of-art-optical-interconnect-2025)
