From photonics IC test to 1.6T Ethernet validation, new demonstrations address AI data center scaling challenges
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) today announced its participation at OFC 2026, taking place March 15-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. At booth #1300 in the South Hall, Keysight will demonstrate how it accelerates AI infrastructure development with end-to-end visibility and validation across the stack. From physics to packets, Keysight provides AI workload emulation for 1.6T scale-out and scale-up Ethernet using KAI Data Center Builder, empowering engineers to design, validate, and optimize next-generation high-speed infrastructure with greater precision and scalability.
The demonstrations address critical challenges facing AI data center architects as they push toward higher speeds and densities. Keysight’s portfolio spans photonic integrated circuit test at the wafer level, 224G interconnect validation for linear pluggable optics, and Ultra Ethernet interoperability with load latency reduction and credit-based flow control. These capabilities enable engineers to validate, benchmark, and optimize AI infrastructure at 1.6T speeds required for hyperscale AI deployments.
Key Insights at a Glance
- Photonics IC Test: Solutions characterize MRM, MZM, and photodiodes beyond 170 GHz at wafer and die levels, with automated RF and photonic testing for bias and heat-detuning.
- Unified Electro-Optical Workflow: Correlated electrical and optical measurements across the link accelerate debug and reduce integration risk through aligned waveform analysis, eye metrics, and system-level performance.
- 224G Interconnect Validation: Testing for linear pluggable optics and retimers with reference receiver emulation enables high-reliability interconnect validation for AI data centers.
- KAI Data Center Builder: AI workload emulation solutions enable co-optimization of infrastructure and workloads, benchmarking performance at scale for next-generation AI fabrics.
Enabling AI-Scale Readiness Through Precision Test
Keysight’s OFC demonstrations begin at the component level with photonic integrated circuit test capabilities essential for AI infrastructure scaling. The company’s portfolio enables verification of photonic ICs at wafer and die levels, characterizing key components including micro-ring modulators, Mach-Zehnder modulators, and photodiodes beyond 170 GHz. Automated testing for bias and heat-detuning streamlines the characterization process, while unified electro-optical workflows correlate measurements across the link. By aligning waveform analysis, eye metrics, and system-level performance, engineers gain comprehensive visibility into device behavior that accelerates debug and reduces integration risk. For AI data centers requiring 224G interconnect validation, Keysight demonstrates testing of linear pluggable optics and retimers, validating linear interfaces and emulating reference receivers to ensure high-reliability operation.
Driving Optical Breakthroughs for Future AI Networks
Looking beyond current generation infrastructure, Keysight showcases solutions enabling 3.2T networks ready to support future AI applications. The 448Gbps optical research demonstration shows how to generate 224 GBaud PAM-4 signals and test up to 120 GHz bandwidth, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in optical transmission. Coherent transmitter validation through reference receiver measurements includes modulation analysis, optical spectrum characterization, and signal quality metrics critical for high-capacity AI networking. For immediate deployment needs, Keysight’s 1.6T optical transmitter validation solutions reduce test complexity while maximizing throughput, ensuring readiness for hyperscale AI deployments. These capabilities address the fundamental challenge facing AI infrastructure builders: how to validate that optical components and systems will perform reliably when deployed at massive scale.
Transforming AI Data Center Architecture Validation
At the system level, Keysight demonstrates how its solutions enable deterministic 1.6T scale-up and scale-out AI networking. The Ultra Ethernet interoperability showcase with load latency reduction and credit-based flow control validates high-density interconnects at line rate while supporting both 112G and 224G SerDes. This capability accelerates deployment of next-generation AI fabrics by ensuring that switches, cables, and optical modules interoperate reliably under real-world traffic patterns. KAI Data Center Builder and workload emulation solutions enable co-optimization of infrastructure and workloads, allowing engineers to benchmark performance at scale and validate AI-driven data center architectures before deployment. By providing end-to-end visibility from individual components to fully configured systems, Keysight empowers engineers to identify and resolve issues at every stage of the development lifecycle.
Future Outlook
Keysight’s OFC 2026 demonstrations arrive as AI infrastructure providers race to scale from current 800G deployments toward 1.6T and beyond. The transition to 224G SerDes, linear pluggable optics, and co-packaged optics introduces new validation challenges that traditional test approaches cannot address. By providing integrated solutions spanning photonic component test, interconnect validation, and system-level workload emulation, Keysight enables engineers to maintain confidence as speeds increase and architectures evolve. The demonstrations of 448Gbps research capabilities also signal readiness for the next generation beyond 1.6T, ensuring that test infrastructure keeps pace with roadmaps extending toward 3.2T. For hyperscalers and networking equipment manufacturers racing to deploy AI infrastructure, Keysight’s comprehensive validation capabilities reduce time-to-market while ensuring reliability at massive scale.
Conclusion
Keysight’s presence at OFC 2026 showcases solutions that accelerate AI infrastructure development from photonic components to complete data center fabrics. With demonstrations spanning 170 GHz photonic IC test, 224G interconnect validation, 1.6T optical transmitter characterization, and Ultra Ethernet interoperability, Keysight empowers engineers to validate next-generation AI networks with precision and confidence. For professionals attending OFC, booth #1300 offers a comprehensive view of the test capabilities required to scale AI infrastructure.
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 life cycle. 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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