October 2025 – Global networking leader Cisco has officially launched its new 8223 routing system, a breakthrough solution designed to address the surging demand for inter-data centre connectivity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). As AI workloads scale rapidly and stretch the physical and energy limits of hyperscale facilities, Cisco’s innovation aims to reshape how data centres collaborate across regions.
Meeting the Demands of AI-Driven Infrastructure
The Cisco 8223 is purpose-built for distributed AI workloads, enabling data centres to function together seamlessly as part of “scale-across” architectures. Powered by Cisco’s Silicon One P200 chip, the router delivers an impressive 51.2 terabits per second (Tbps) of Ethernet routing capacity, making it one of the most powerful solutions in the networking market today.
Martin Lund, Executive Vice President of Cisco’s Common Hardware Group, explained the growing challenge:
“AI compute is outgrowing the capacity of even the largest data centre, driving the need for reliable, secure connection of data centres hundreds of miles apart. With the Cisco 8223, powered by the new Cisco Silicon One P200, we’re delivering the massive bandwidth, scale, and security needed for distributed data centre architectures.”
Technical Capabilities of the Cisco 8223
The new system offers 64 ports of 800G, processing more than 20 billion packets per second, and scaling up to an astonishing 3 exabits per second. It also integrates features that make it future-ready for demanding AI environments:
- Deep buffering to handle heavy traffic surges efficiently.
- 800G coherent optics supporting interconnects across distances of up to 1,000 km.
- Line-rate encryption with post-quantum resilient algorithms, ensuring robust data security.
Initially, the 8223 will be available for open-source SONiC deployments, with Cisco planning IOS XR support in the near future. The versatile P200 chip can also be integrated into modular and disaggregated chassis, enabling consistent architecture across networks of varying scales.
Industry Reactions: Strong Validation from Tech Leaders
The launch has already drawn praise from leading industry players who recognize its impact on the future of cloud and AI infrastructure:
- Dave Maltz, Technical Fellow at Microsoft, highlighted the scalability benefits: “The increasing scale of the cloud and AI requires faster networks with more buffering to absorb bursts. We’re pleased to see the P200 providing innovation and more options in this space.”
- Dennis Cai, Vice President at Alibaba Cloud, pointed out the shift in network design: “This new routing chip will enable us to extend into the Core network, replacing traditional chassis-based routers with a cluster of P200-powered devices.”
- Patrick Moorhead, CEO of Moor Insights & Strategy, called the 8223 a market-defining solution: “Cisco’s 8223, powered by Silicon One P200, marks a significant step forward, delivering the industry’s first 51.2-terabit fixed Ethernet router purpose-built for secure, power-efficient scale-across networking.”
Driving the Next Wave of AI Networking
With the AI revolution accelerating, hyperscale data centres are under pressure to move vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds, while maintaining energy efficiency and security. Cisco’s 8223 system directly addresses these needs, offering a solution that enables AI clusters across multiple facilities to operate as one unified system.
The company confirmed that initial shipments of the 8223 are already being delivered to hyperscale customers, signaling strong market interest in its capabilities.
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