High-speed digital-to-analog/ analog-to-digital paves the way for faster and more energy-efficient optical and electrical links in data centers

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-high-dac-paves-faster-energy.html

"Imec's wireline 7-bit 150 GSa/s Digital-to-Analog Converter fabricated in 5nm FinFET CMOS process, data rates up to 300 Gb/s using PAM-4 modulation... enables sophisticated signal processing supporting transmission over physical links... reduced:  signal degradation/ power inefficiencies... reduced number of unit cells from 127 to 34, minimizing switching activity, lowering power consumption (to 621 mW at 0.9V and 0.96V supplies) without compromising speed, with decreased parasitic effects"