Acquisition Helps Keysight Grow Photonic Design Automation Portfolio

Keysight Technologies, Inc. has completed the acquisition of VPIphotonics on June 9, 2026, adding system-level simulation to its photonic design automation portfolio. This acquisition will also allow for optical and electrical engineers to advance designs from component to complete link in one environment.

Keysight's photonic design automation portfolio now moves from device physics to full system behavior. RSoft handles device-level simulation for waveguides, gratings, modulators, and laser sources. Photonic Designer delivers circuit-level design and verification for photonic integrated circuits.

The acquisition of VPIphotonics boosts Keysight's circuit-level design capabilities and extends its photonic design automation portfolio to the system level with VPIphotonics Design Suite. 

One example of this integrated workflow is VPI Optical Link in Keysight ADS, which enables simulation of the transceiver path in a single analysis, from electrical to optical and back to electrical (E-O-E). Engineers can then predict how the whole link will perform, including bit error rate, without moving a design between separate electrical and optical tools.

Because the workflow connects to Keysight's high-speed digital tools and test instruments, simulation aligns with bench measurements, which means, issues surface earlier and teams require fewer prototype iterations.

“We have been supporting our customers with value-adding photonic design tools for high-demand applications for decades," says Dr. André Richter, general manager, VPIphotonics. "Joining Keysight means we can engineer powerful, more complete workflow solutions to serve our customers better.”

“Photonics design complexity continues to increase for our customers, especially for those working at speeds greater than 1 THz," says Nilesh Kamdar, general manager, Keysight EDA. "Having a complete suite of tools that address these challenges from device to system is crucial."

Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.