Active Electrical Cable (AEC) & Smart Cable Module (800G OSFP) — in-cable retimer module

Active Electrical Cable (AEC) & Smart Cable Module (800G OSFP) — in-cable retimer module

**Companies committing:** astera-labs, credo-technology.

**Opportunity:** AECs replace optics inside-rack (short reach, 800G) at a fraction of the cost and power — the canonical scale-up cable for GB200-class racks; Credo proved the category, Astera is now entering it.

Two-supplier race forming: Credo (incumbent, hiring AE/customer enablement) vs Astera (new entrant hiring program mgr + EE for Smart Cable Modules). 800G OSFP form factor is converging. Demand pull from rack architecture is undeniable; question is whether Astera lands hyperscaler design-ins before Credo locks them.

_Evidence caveat: Niche product; no A2/A4/A5 hits._