USB Promoter Group organization announced the release of the USB4 Version 2.0 specification, a major update that will provide data transfer speeds of up to 80 Gbps via a USB Type-C cable and connector. The USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery (USB PD) specifications will also be updated to allow for this higher data transfer rate. All specification updates are expected to be released before this year’s USB DevDays series of developer events, scheduled for November.

Protocols will also be updated to improve USB 3.2, DisplayPort, and PCI Express (PCIe) data tunneling performance to make the best use of available bandwidth.

“Once again following USB tradition, this updated USB4 specification doubles data performance to deliver higher levels of functionality to the USB Type-C ecosystem,” said Brad Saunders, USB Promoter Group Chairman. “Solutions seeing the most benefit from this speed enhancement include higher performance displays, storage, and USB-based hubs and docks.”

The main specifications of the updated USB4 solution:

Operation at speeds up to 80 Gbit/s based on a new physical layer architecture using existing passive USB Type-C 40 Gbit/s cables and new active USB Type-C 80 Gbit/s cables;
Updating data and display protocols to make better use of the increase in available bandwidth;
Updates to the USB data architecture now allow USB 3.2 data tunneling to exceed 20 Gbps;
Compliance with the latest versions of the DisplayPort and PCIe specifications;
Backwards compatible with USB4 v1.0, USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3.

At this time, the USB4 Version 2.0 update is specifically for developers. Branding and marketing guidelines will be updated in the future to include USB 80 Gb/s for both certified product identification and certified cables.