Extending In‑rack Copper for AI: A Hybrid 200G ACC/AEC Solution

Extending in‑rack copper reach is critical for scaling AI data center infrastructure—without increasing cost or power. This solution combines the simplicity and efficiency of active copper cable (ACC) with the extended reach of active electrical cable (AEC), delivering a balanced approach between the two.
Rather than moving entirely to AEC, this hybrid architecture preserves the low cost and low power benefits of ACC, while enabling longer reach where it’s needed. The design integrates 200G AEC and 200G ACC on the same cable, creating a flexible and efficient connectivity solution.
In this demo, 200G‑per‑lane active copper technology is implemented in a 2.5 m Y‑cable:

- One end features a 200G AEC DSP
- The other end splits into two 200G ACC connections

This configuration delivers 8 × 200G on the AEC side and 4 × 200G on each ACC side, enabling higher bandwidth density and extended reach—all while maintaining power and cost efficiency for AI racks.