Press Release, 15 October 2025
In a move that could reshape in-vehicle networking, Keysight Technologies has introduced the AE6980T nGBASE-AU Optical Automotive Ethernet Transmitter Test Solution, the first platform built to validate optical automotive Ethernet transmitters under the IEEE 802.3cz standard. The company launched this innovation at the 2025 IEEE SA “Ethernet & IP @ Automotive Technology Day” in Toulouse, signaling a strategic push toward higher-speed, more reliable in-car connectivity.
As vehicles evolve toward software-defined architectures and increased autonomy, their internal data demands are skyrocketing. Optical Ethernet—capable of delivering 2.5 to 50 Gbps over multimode fiber—offers advantages in bandwidth, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and lighter cabling. The AE6980T addresses this by combining Keysight’s FlexDCA platform with advanced Transmitter Distortion Figure of Merit (TDFOM) measurements. These metrics help engineers evaluate signal integrity, forecast real-world performance, and debug optical components more efficiently.
Compliance with IEEE 802.3cz (Amendment 7, 2023) and Open Alliance TC7 test house specifications ensures that this test solution meets rigorous industry standards. It supports Keysight’s DCA-M oscilloscopes (models N1092A/N1092C) paired with clock recovery via the N1077B. During development, Keysight collaborated with the semiconductor firm KD to align TDFOM test definitions with the standard and integrate KD’s software-based reference receiver into its tooling.
With this launch, Keysight is positioning itself at the center of automotive connectivity’s next wave—helping OEMs, Tier-1s, and test labs certify optical Ethernet components that will power future vehicles with higher data throughput, lower latency, and greater reliability.
Source: Keysight Technologies
