Ultra Ethernet Consortium Launches Specification 1.0 Transforming Ethernet for AI and HPC at Scale

The Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) announces the release of UEC Specification 1.0, a comprehensive, Ethernet-based communication stack engineered to meet the demanding needs of modern AI and HPC workloads.

This release marks a critical step forward in redefining Ethernet for next-gen, data-intensive infrastructure.

UEC Specification 1.0 delivers a high-performance, scalable, and interoperable solution across all layers of the networking stack – including NICs, switches, optics, and cables – enabling seamless multi-vendor integration and accelerating innovation throughout the ecosystem. 

The UEC specification is advancing industry-wide adoption by promoting open, interoperable standards that prevent vendor lock-in. With active implementations and compliance programs already in progress, UEC is paving the way for a unified and accessible ecosystem across the sector.

“The Ultra Ethernet 1.0 Specification is the result of an outstanding collaboration of AI, HPC, and networking experts, system and silicon vendors, and network operators,” added Hugh Holbrook, chair, technical advisory committee, Ultra Ethernet Consortium. “It incorporates a wealth of knowledge, experience, and ideas related to applications, transport protocols, congestion control, direct memory access, Ethernet link and PHY technologies, and network security. This is a landmark development for the industry, and I’m thrilled for the public release of Ultra Ethernet to further boost Ethernet’s success in AI and HPC.”

Addressing Critical Infrastructure Needs
As AI and HPC workloads continue to evolve at unprecedented speed, UEC’s purpose-built Ethernet innovation delivers:

• Modern RDMA for Ethernet and IP – Supporting intelligent, low-latency transport for high-throughput environments.
• Open Standards and Interoperability – Avoids vendor lock-in while accelerating ecosystem-wide innovation.
• End-to-End Scalability – From routing and provisioning to operations and testing, UEC scales to millions of endpoints.

Designed for Real-World Integration
Built on the globally adopted Ethernet standard, UEC 1.0 simplifies deployment across the full technology stack – from hardware to applications. Its familiarity, combined with robust tooling, makes it especially valuable to cloud infrastructure operators, hyperscalers, DevOps teams, and AI engineering leads seeking low-friction adoption paths.

“As Chair of the Ultra Ethernet Consortium, I’m proud to announce the release of the UEC 1.0 specification – a major milestone in our mission to redefine Ethernet for the age of AI and high-performance computing,” said Dr. J Metz, chair, steering committee, Ultra Ethernet Consortium. “This standard is the result of unprecedented collaboration across the industry, and it delivers the low-latency, high-bandwidth, and intelligent transport needed for the most demanding workloads of today and tomorrow. The UEC 1.0 release is just the beginning – Ultra Ethernet is here, and it’s built to scale the future.”

Call to Action
UEC invites the global technology community to:
Download the UEC 1.0 specification.
Watch the video to learn more about the UEC 1.0 Specification.
Review the new white paper for deeper insights into architecture and use cases.
Join the Ultra Ethernet Consortium to help drive industry-wide adoption and participate in upcoming compliance and interoperability programs.