Test and Measurement: Keysight aims to expand software-centric strategy with acquisition of Synopsys optical design tools

Keysight Technologies plans to acquire optical design and analysis software from Synopsys. Keysight says the acquisition will expand its engineering design software portfolio and computer-aided engineering capabilities.

Synopsys is in the midst of its expected $35 billion acquisition of microprocessor software design business Ansys, which has been the subject of significant global scrutiny due to the potential consolidation of too much control over integrated circuit design software. Synopsys has indicated that it believes the divestiture of the OSG unit is a “necessary step toward obtaining regulatory approval and successfully completing Synopsys’ proposed acquisition of Ansys.”

The Keysight deal is therefore subject not only to the usual regulatory review but also to the successful closing of Synopsys’ proposed acquisition of Ansys, which is expected to occur in the first half of next year. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed; Synopsys said in an SEC filing that the divestiture of OSG would not have a material impact on its financials.

Synopsys described its OSG design capabilities as spanning light propagation to high-accuracy simulation and visualization of optical products, including imaging system design, automotive lighting design, and photonics device tools. Keysight said in a release that OSG will bring “a suite of software solutions for optical system design, analysis, simulation, and virtual prototyping, as well as an experienced team with deep industry knowledge.”

He added, “With the acquisition of this complementary business, Keysight will expand its design software offerings and strengthen its position in RF/microwave electronics design automation and physics-based computer-aided engineering capabilities.”

“Given the increasing complexity of electronics design, Keysight is excited to expand its simulation software portfolio with the acquisition of Synopsys’ Optical Solutions Group. This acquisition will provide us with capabilities to enable high-performance system applications beyond electronics, including optics and photonics. We look forward to welcoming the company’s employees to Keysight once the transaction closes and working with them to solve customers’ critical design challenges requiring multiphysics simulation to predict product performance,” said Niels Faché, vice president and general manager, Engineering Software Design, Keysight.

In other test news:

–Rohde & Schwarz The equipment powers a tunable, terahertz photonics-based 6G experimental system, part of the 6G-ADLANTIK project unveiled at European Microwave Week in Paris this week.

– Also during the European Microwave Week, an expert on millimetre waves Tymtek presents a 5G Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) demonstration in collaboration with Anritsuat the Tymtek booth. Tymtek’s RIS is available in both a 28 GHz and 4.7 GHz model.

-Cellular infrastructure provider Reliable announced that its Open RAN radio units are part of an interoperability testing effort made possible by Viavi Solutions Automated Laboratory as a Service for Open RAN, or VALOR.

The VALOR project received a $21.7 million grant from the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as part of the U.S. government’s efforts to support the development of an Open RAN ecosystem.

– This week, as part of the telecoms’ indirect efforts to increase network openness, Harmonic touted its virtualized optical network core software and collaborations with multiple optical network unit (ONU) vendors to support Open ONUs and enhanced interoperability with optical line terminals (OLTs) for fiber-to-the-wire broadband deployments. The company recently expanded its interoperability testing facilities.

“The drive to standardize interactions between OLT and ONU manufacturers is changing the economic dynamics of fiber-to-the-home deployments,” said Dan Gledhill, vice president of broadband fiber at Harmonic. “By having the ability to choose preferred OLT and ONU vendors, operators can eliminate vendor lock-in and reduce deployment costs. By expanding our qualification and testing centers, we can provide a seamless experience for operators and support a robust, diverse vendor ecosystem.”

–ATX networks he said that Communication Cards has certified ATX’s 1.8 GHz hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) amplifiers and nodes for deployment on Charter’s network as Charter seeks to expand its offering of gigabit symmetrical broadband speeds.

-ICYMI: The advent of generative AI and the increased computing power that comes with it have sparked new interest in how AI can be used in telecommunications networks. Operators expect benefits that include expanded automation in network planning and operations, as well as new paths to monetization. RCR Wireless News caught up with Keysight Technologies for his perspective on the impact of AI in network testing and assurance. Read the Q&A here.

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