Keysight Expands 1.6T Interconnect Validation Technology to Include Passive Copper and Low Power Optics

Key Terms

direct attach cables (dac) technical

Direct attach cables (DAC) are short, fixed network cables with built-in connectors that link two devices—like servers or switches—directly, delivering high-speed data without separate transceiver modules. Investors care because DACs are a lower-cost, lower-power connection option that can reduce equipment and operating expenses, influence hardware purchase decisions and product mix, and affect margins and supply dynamics for companies that make or sell networking gear.

linear receive optics (lro) technical

Linear receive optics (LRO) are hardware components that convert incoming light signals on a fiber or optical cable into electrical signals with a consistent, proportional response across a wide range of signal strengths. Think of it like a camera sensor that faithfully captures both bright and dim parts of a scene without distortion; for investors, LRO matters because it enables higher-speed, lower-error data links in data centers and telecom networks, influencing product performance, cost, and market competitiveness.

coherent optical transceivers technical

Coherent optical transceivers are devices that send and receive very large amounts of data over fiber-optic cables by encoding information into the light’s properties, allowing one fiber to carry far more traffic than older light transmitters. Think of them as advanced multi-lane highways for data: they boost network capacity and distance without laying more cable, which matters to investors because they can lower network costs, enable higher revenue from bandwidth-hungry services, and drive demand for equipment vendors and service providers.

fully retimed optical transceivers (fro) technical

Fully retimed optical transceivers (FRO) are network modules that not only convert electrical signals to light and back but also regenerate the timing and shape of data pulses, like a road crew smoothing and relining a bumpy highway so traffic flows faster and without errors. For investors, FROs matter because they improve link reliability and support higher data rates and longer distances, influencing product value, network upgrade decisions and revenue potential for equipment makers and service providers.

active electrical cables (aecs) technical

Active electrical cables are data or power cables that include built-in electronic components such as amplifiers, converters or signal conditioners to boost performance over longer distances or higher speeds. For investors, they matter because the embedded electronics can raise cost, add points of failure or proprietary value, influence product margins and supply-chain complexity, and affect upgrade cycles—think of a charging cord with a tiny performance booster built into its plug.

active copper cables (acc) technical

Active copper cables are electrical network cables that include built-in electronics to boost or condition the data signal, allowing higher speeds and longer reach than ordinary "passive" copper cables. Think of them as a regular cable with a tiny amplifier inside that keeps data clear over greater distances. Investors care because these cables affect hardware performance, unit cost, power use and upgrade cycles for data centers and telecom networks, influencing vendor sales, margins and replacement demand.

digital signal processors (dsps) technical

Digital signal processors (DSPs) are specialized microchips designed to quickly clean up, transform and analyze streams of data such as sound, radio signals, images or sensor readings; think of them as fast translators that turn noisy raw inputs into usable information. For investors they matter because DSPs can enable better product features, lower power use and higher performance in devices from phones to cars and networks, influencing demand, product competitiveness and profit margins for hardware and semiconductor companies.

Enhanced testing improves reliability and reduces risk when deploying the most demanding critical-path interconnects in AI and high‑performance computing networks

SANTA ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) today introduces the next generation of its 1.6T Ethernet interconnect error-performance validation portfolio, expanding and enhancing its capabilities to qualify the most challenging 1.6T-capable passive copper Direct Attach Cables (DAC), Active Copper Cables (ACC), Low Power Optics (LPO) and Linear Receive Optics (LRO). These interconnect types are critical to successful scale-out and scale-up network deployments for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) applications.

Enhancements to Keysight’s AresONE 1600GE and INPT-1600GE test platforms now expand 1.6T Ethernet interconnect validation to include challenging passive copper and low power optics, enabling the future of AI networks.

As AI and HPC infrastructures scale, 1.6T interconnect technologies—including DAC, LPO, and LRO—must deliver ultra-high Ethernet speeds at the lowest possible cost and power consumption while maintaining error-free performance for extended operation in scale-up and scale-out networks. Reducing power consumption is particularly critical as global data center power demand is projected to increase by 50% by 2027 and up to 165% by the end of the decade compared to 2023, according to Black Ridge Research.

To address these challenges, Keysight has enhanced its Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 1600GE (INPT-1600GE) and recently announced AresONE 1600GE test systems to accurately and repeatably characterize the error performance of these interconnect technologies. This enables manufacturers and network operators to select the most reliable solutions and reduce the risk of costly downtime in AI networks, where outages can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour depending on the scale of the AI workload.

Keysight’s latest technology innovations expand the capabilities of the INPT-1600GE and AresONE 1600GE platforms to validate the performance and reliability of a broader range of 224G interconnects. Enhanced capabilities include:

• Coherent Optical Transceivers – used for Data Center Interconnect (DCI) applications with reach ranges up to 120 kilometers.
• Fully Retimed Optical Transceivers (FRO) – supports network equipment for 500-meter to 10-kilometer applications.
• Low Power Optics (LPO) - used in high-density network switches for shorter-reach applications up to 500 meters, conserving power consumption.
• Linear Receive Optics (LRO) - enables high-density switch equipment to reach applications up to 2000 meters while conserving power.
• Active Electrical Cables (AECs) – deployed in data center racks and for intra-rack applications extending up to 7–9 meters.
• Active Copper Cables (ACC) - used in data center racks and for intra-rack applications reaching up to 3 meters, reducing cost and conserving power.
• Passive Copper Direct Attach Cables (DAC) – installed within network racks for 1-meter reach applications that are inherently low power and highly dependable.

New, leading-edge silicon in the form of digital signal processors (DSPs), retimers, and linear amplifiers is driving innovation across these interconnect types. The benefits these devices provide—such as longer reach at 224G lane speeds and lower latency and cost—come with a tradeoff: the silicon must be tuned to achieve the goals of each interconnect type. Due to complex tuning, once initial settings are applied, the fully assembled interconnect must be evaluated for performance, and settings often need multiple adjustment cycles to reach optimum levels. Each tuning iteration requires re-assessment of the interconnect’s performance.

Characterizing the performance of these interconnects is especially important at the system level (i.e., fully assembled) — and when measured while connected to networking equipment such as GPUs, Network Interface Cards (NICs), switches, and routers. This validation goes beyond interoperability by measuring interconnect performance installed in network equipment in long-duration tests. This allows network designers and operators to make informed decisions. Both INPT-1600GE and AresONE 1600GE can measure error performance in real-world scenarios within production networks.

Scott Schube, Vice President, Applications and Business Development, Signal Integrity Products at Semtech, said:

"As AI and HPC networks scale to 1.6T, the industry is demanding interconnect solutions that extend reach while reducing power and cost — and active copper cables are emerging as a critical part of that equation. Semtech's 224G linear redriver ICs are designed to support ACC deployments, and working alongside Keysight's test infrastructure gives our customers confidence that these solutions perform reliably in real-world network environments."

Ram Periakaruppan, Vice President and General Manager, Network Test & Security Solutions, Keysight, said: “Keysight’s new second-generation 1.6T test capabilities address the challenges presented by 224G interconnects for 1.6T-capable networks. Keysight has long supported 224G silicon and interconnect development through our active participation in the development of industry standards in the IEEE802.3, the OIF, the LPO-MSA, and recently we’ve joined the newly announced ACC-MSA. Keysight will continue to rapidly deliver next-generation products that support the industry’s transition to 224G and beyond.”

Keysight will showcase its latest 1.6T Ethernet and interconnect validation solutions at OFC 2026 in South Hall, booth #1300, March 17-19, 2026, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Resources

• Product Page: INPT-1600GE
• Product Page: AresONE 1600GE
• Data Sheet: AresOne 1600GE
• Data Sheet: INPT-1600GE

About Keysight Technologies

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

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Source: Keysight Technologies, Inc.