Huawei Speeds Up Ascend 960DT Launch to Q1 2027, Targets Nvidia Dominance
Huawei has accelerated its plans to launch the Ascend 960DT AI chip, which is now set for release in Q1 2027. This move marks a significant shift from the original roadmap, with the company aiming to challenge Nvidia's dominance in the market.
In an effort to compensate for limits on individual Chinese chips, Huawei has developed its UnifiedBus technology, which connects processors, memory, storage, and networking equipment inside systems. The Ascend 960 supernode can connect up to 4,096 AI processors, with multiple supernodes linked into clusters supporting as many as 1 million processors.
Huawei's strategy is also driven by the need to reduce reliance on foreign technology, particularly in light of US export controls restricting China's access to Nvidia's most advanced chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Huawei has shipped over 1,000 supernode systems to more than 370 customers and plans to launch the Ascend 960PR in Q3 2027.