Keysight Closes $1.46 B Acquisition of Spirent Enhancing Communications and Cybersecurity Test Offering

Keysight Technologies has officially completed its $1.46 billion acquisition of Spirent Communications plc, marking one of the largest consolidations in the global test and measurement industry.

Spirent’s expertise in automated network assurance, positioning (GNSS), cybersecurity testing, and satellite emulation complements Keysight’s portfolio, expanding the company’s reach into software-centric and end-to-end testing markets.

Regulators, however, imposed conditions on the deal to address competition concerns. The U.S. Department of Justice required Keysight to divest three Spirent business lines, high-speed Ethernet testing, network security testing, and RF channel emulation, which are being sold to VIAVI Solutions . The divestiture, expected to close shortly after the main transaction, ensures that market competition remains balanced, particularly in high-performance networking and security testing.

Spirent’s capabilities in automation and assurance reflect growing customer demand for tools that support cloud-native, virtualized, and AI-optimized networks. Keysight’s move signals its intent to lead this transition, positioning itself ahead of rivals such as Rohde & Schwarz, Anritsu, and Tektronix, which are also evolving toward digital and software-based testing models.

Keysight will need to ensure a smooth transition for Spirent’s existing clients, especially those whose product lines are moving to VIAVI. Longer term, the combined company’s ability to innovate rapidly and maintain agility amid growing software complexity will determine how effectively it capitalizes on this expanded market position.