Nokia is pledging its support for the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC), bringing its Ethernet networking and standards development to help shape Ultra Ethernet as a highly compatible, low-cost, and interoperable part of AI and HPC application stacks.
UEC group brings together companies for industry-wide cooperation to develop Ethernet specifications and software APIs that empower AI and HPC environments.
The growth of AI is driving not only the need for expanded computing resources but also changes to networks, especially those connecting computing clusters for HPC used in AI training and inference.
As the near-universal protocol for data networks, Ethernet is the ideal place to start for meeting the broad performance needs of AI. With Nokia’s support, the UEC will develop new standards, best practices, and architectures for specialized AI data center networks.
Nokia will leverage its web, enterprise, and service provider networks expertise by contributing to several UEC working groups, which will help ensure that Ultra Ethernet meets the critical needs of all its customers.
“The UEC welcomes Nokia’s deep experience and expertise in building some of the world’s highest-performing networks,” said J Metz, Chair of the Ultra Ethernet Consortium. “Together with a broad ecosystem of consortium partners, our goal is to provide an open, interoperable standard that allows networks to be upgraded easily and inexpensively to meet the needs of AI and HPC applications. With strong partners like Nokia, we know the UEC will drive the standard to ensure broad AI adoption.”
Nokia is one of several companies that have joined the UEC. DriveNets also recently joined the Ultra Ethernet Consortium. Other members include Broadcom, Cisco, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle.
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