For more than a decade, the Ethernet Roadmap has been the industry’s trusted guide to Ethernet’s ongoing evolution. As the world’s only publicly available Ethernet roadmap, it gives engineers, developers, network operators, and business leaders a clear view of both today’s technologies and what lies ahead.
Charting Ethernet’s Next Era
The 2026 Roadmap details Ethernet’s expanding role in AI, automotive, enterprise, cloud, manufacturing, and next-gen connectivity. Arriving at a key moment in Ethernet’s 50+ year history, it outlines the technologies and trends reshaping performance, power efficiency, and scale in an AI-driven world.
New in 2026:
- AI-scale speed jumps with 100G–800G interconnects and emerging 1.6Tb/s Ethernet
- Next-gen optics, including LPO and new high-efficiency copper and fiber designs
- Enterprise moves to 2.5G/5G/10GBASE-T with faster optical uplinks for Wi-Fi 7/8 and AI-ready workplaces
- Automotive Ethernet expansion as software-defined vehicles demand higher bandwidth and precise timing
- Smarter industrial networks using TSN, BASE-T1, and converged 5G/Wi-Fi/Ethernet for real-time automation
- More efficient networking with better bandwidth-per-watt, improved cooling, and advanced power management
| “The 2026 Ethernet Roadmap highlights where the industry is heading and how Ethernet is adapting – scaling for AI, expanding across new markets, and pushing efficiency to the next level.”
Peter Jones, Chairman, Ethernet Alliance |
Download Your Copy Today!
- 2026 Roadmap – Digital Version
- 2026 Roadmap – Side 1 (for print)
- 2026 Roadmap – Side 2 (for print)
- 2026 Roadmap – Individual Graphics
Complimentary printed copies will be available at Ethernet Alliance events throughout the year.
Please attribute Ethernet Alliance as the source for all Ethernet Roadmap artwork.
Special thanks to the Ethernet Alliance Roadmap Subcommittee for its dedication in producing the 2026 edition.
Historical Archive
Curious about past versions of the Roadmap?