Data Center Ethernet Switch Sales Rise 25% in 1H25 on AI Demand
San Francisco – October 31, 2026 -- Data center Ethernet switch revenues and shipments each grew 25% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, with generative AI a key growth driver, according to Crehan Research.
General data center compute networking demand was also solid. The AI build-out is changing how quickly new port speeds ramp, however.
800GbE branded switch adoption runs almost 100 times ahead of 400GbE
Deployments of 800 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switches surged alongside generative AI growth. Adoption is proving much faster than that of 400GbE, Crehan said. In branded data center switching, the 800GbE adoption curve to date is almost one hundred times better than that of 400GbE.
Crehan Research President Seamus Crehan said generative AI has produced much steeper and faster adoption curves for new higher Ethernet speeds.