Marvell announced its dual 400GbE  MACsec PHY transceiver with 256-bit encryption and Class C compliant precision time protocol (PTP) timestamping, bringing advanced performance, security and transfer speeds for next-generation networking infrastructure. Hardware-based point-to-point encryption encompassing Ethernet speeds up to 400G is being deployed in cloud, carrier and enterprise networks to address the market demand for enhanced data security. In addition, the stringent timing requirements of 5G radios are driving the timing accuracy that needs to be delivered by networks supporting these services.

The new 400GbE PHY device incorporates Marvell’s56G PAM4 SerDe s technology, IEEE 802.1AE 256-bit MACsec encryption and highly accurate PTP timestamping. This comprehensive and innovative feature set enables network equipment manufacturers to deliver solutions with increased throughput, enhanced security and timing precision for hyperscale data center, edge, enterprise, and 5G infrastructure applications.

Data centers require new technologies to support composable infrastructure and the new era in connected intelligence and edge computing. With support for all Ethernet speeds from 400GbE down to 1GbE, Marvell’s dual 400G MACsec PHY, the 88X7121P, in combination with the breakthrough Marvell® Prestera CX 8500 400GbE switch, allows data to be securely moved to the smart edge to meet the bandwidth and latency demands for critical applications enabled by 5G and artificial intelligence.

The 88X7121P, the latest addition to Marvell’s Alaska C family of Ethernet transceivers, supports both retiming and gearboxing applications and is footprint- and software-compatible to Marvell’s 88X7120 PHY, providing design flexibility for customers. The new device is fully compliant to IEEE standards for 400GbE, 100GbE and 50GbE, and exceeds the electrical specifications to interface with QSFP-DD and OSFP optical modules. The 88X7121P’s 256-bit MACsec-based encryption for point to point links provides enhanced security and allows for flexible deployment of MACsec encryption without incurring the cost and power burden of including this functionality in the switch ASIC. Highly accurate Class C PTP timestamping incorporated in the device enables enhanced timing precision required for carrier, wireless backhaul, and 5G infrastructure applications.

The Marvell 88X7121P is currently sampling.