MaxLinear, announced the introduction of Annapurna, a high-performance scale-up retimer supporting up to 1.6Tbps of electrical connectivity at 224Gbps per lane using PAM4 signaling. The device targets Active Electrical Cables (AECs) and on-board retimer applications to extend reliable copper-based interconnects in AI data center environments.
Annapurna addresses signal integrity challenges at 224G per lane, including attenuation, return loss, skin-effect resistance, copper roughness, and inter-symbol interference. It incorporates advanced adaptive equalization, transmit pre-emphasis, and proprietary DSP algorithms to enable copper channels to operate over distances that previously required optical solutions.
The retimer is available in eight-lane (1.6Tbps) and sixteen-lane (3.2Tbps) configurations. It features ultra-low latency for GPU-to-GPU synchronization in synchronous AI training fabrics, high power efficiency to meet strict power envelopes, comprehensive telemetry and diagnostics, and compliance with IEEE 802.3dj and OIF CEI-224G standards.
The product supports hybrid optical-electrical AI architectures, where optical interconnects handle longer-reach scale-out networking and copper provides power, latency, and cost advantages for scale-up networking within and between racks. Annapurna complements optical solutions and aligns with emerging scale-up protocols such as ESUN, UALink, and Ultra Ethernet.
Rajneesh Gaur, Senior VP & GM, Data Center Connectivity Business Unit at MaxLinear, stated that modern AI infrastructure uses a hybrid approach, with optical excelling at longer reaches for scale-out and copper remaining attractive for scale-up when signal integrity at 224G is addressed.
Aravind Srikumar, SVP, Product & Marketing at Upscale.AI, said electrical connectivity at 224G per lane is fundamental for the SkyHammer scale-up fabric, requiring deterministic latency, guaranteed bandwidth, and power efficiency, with Annapurna enabling signal integrity in rack-scale AI systems.
Bob Wheeler, Analyst at Large at LightCounting Market Research, noted that advanced electrical DSPs like Annapurna allow copper to stay competitive at 224G, preserving power and cost benefits in relevant segments.
LightCounting Research projects the volume for AEC and on-board copper retimers to reach 30 million units in 2029. Annapurna is expected to be available in Q2 2026. Additional information can be obtained by contacting local MaxLinear sales representatives.
The device extends MaxLinear’s connectivity portfolio, which includes Rushmore optical DSP, Keystone and Keystone MM DSPs, and Topanga TIA products for 400G, 800G, and 1.6T applications.
