Keysight Technologies has completed its acquisition of VPIphotonics, adding system-level simulation capabilities to its photonic design automation (PDA) portfolio and extending its design workflow from device physics through full optical link performance. The transaction closed on June 9, 2026, enabling optical and electrical engineers to model, verify, and optimize photonic systems within a more integrated environment. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The move strengthens Keysight’s position in the rapidly growing silicon photonics and co-packaged optics ecosystem, where designers increasingly require tools that span multiple abstraction layers. Keysight’s existing portfolio includes RSoft for device-level modeling of waveguides, gratings, lasers, and modulators, as well as Photonic Designer for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design and verification. With the addition of VPIphotonics Design Suite, engineers can now extend simulations to full system behavior, including complete optical communication links.
A key integration point is VPI Optical Link within Keysight’s Advanced Design System (ADS), allowing engineers to simulate end-to-end electrical-optical-electrical (E-O-E) signal paths and evaluate metrics such as bit error rate (BER) within a unified workflow. Keysight said the combined environment connects simulation, high-speed digital design tools, and physical test instrumentation, helping teams identify issues earlier and reduce prototype iterations. The expanded portfolio targets applications operating beyond 1 THz, including AI infrastructure, optical interconnects, silicon photonics, and next-generation data center networks.
• Keysight completed its acquisition of VPIphotonics on June 9, 2026.
• The acquisition adds system-level photonic simulation to Keysight’s photonic design automation portfolio.
• Combined capabilities now span device-level, circuit-level, and system-level photonic design.
• VPI Optical Link in ADS enables end-to-end E-O-E simulation and BER analysis.
• The platform targets high-speed photonic applications operating beyond 1 THz.
“We have been supporting our customers with value-adding photonic design tools for high-demand applications for decades. Joining Keysight means we can engineer powerful, more complete workflow solutions to serve our customers better,” said Dr. André Richter, General Manager of VPIphotonics.
🌐 Analysis
Keysight has steadily expanded beyond its traditional electronic design automation and test instrumentation roots into photonics design. By combining RSoft, Photonic Designer, ADS, and VPIphotonics, the company now offers a broader platform that competes more directly with end-to-end photonics design environments from other EDA and photonics software providers. The strategy aligns with growing investments across the AI infrastructure ecosystem, where optical networking increasingly serves as a critical scaling technology.
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| Profile: VPIphotonics | |
|---|---|
| Company | VPIphotonics |
| Headquarters / Roots | Berlin, Germany; known for photonic design automation software used in optical communications and integrated photonics design workflows. |
| General Manager | Dr. André Richter |
| Ownership Status | Acquired by Keysight Technologies; transaction completed June 9, 2026. Terms were not disclosed. |
| Core Technology | Photonic Design Automation Optical Link Simulation System-Level Modeling PIC Design Support E-O-E Simulation |
| Flagship Software | VPIphotonics Design Suite, including tools for optical transmission systems, photonic integrated circuits, optical components, and end-to-end link simulation. |
| Integration with Keysight | VPIphotonics adds system-level photonic simulation to Keysight’s portfolio, complementing RSoft for device-level simulation, Photonic Designer for circuit-level PIC design, and ADS for high-speed electrical design. |
| Key Use Cases | Silicon Photonics Co-Packaged Optics Optical Transceivers AI Data Center Interconnects High-Speed Optical Links |
| Design Workflow Role | Enables engineers to model full optical communication links, including electrical-to-optical-to-electrical signal paths, link performance, and bit error rate behavior before hardware prototyping. |
| Strategic Significance | VPIphotonics gives Keysight a stronger system-level layer for photonics design, helping connect simulation, measurement, and validation as optical interconnect complexity rises in AI infrastructure and data center networks. |
