The Role of Ethernet 1.6T in the Future of AI

DNVN - Mr. Charles Seifert, Senior Product Manager of Electronic Platforms and High-Speed ​​Ethernet Solutions at Keysight, recently had an interview with the press about what Ethernet 1.6T means for the future of AI (artificial intelligence), how innovation is reshaping the methods of measuring and validating high-speed connections.

Why is Ethernet 1.6T a key factor in the future of AI and data centers, sir?

Mr. Charles Seifert: The more bandwidth is provided, the lower the volume and latency of data transmission.

Keysight recently helped AT&T achieve a breakthrough in data transmission by successfully transmitting 1.6 Tbps of data on a single wavelength over 296 km of commercial fiber optic cable between Newark and Philadelphia in the United States. The test signal was transmitted in parallel with existing live traffic on 100 Gbps and 400 Gbps wavelengths, resulting in a fourfold increase in network speeds without interruption.

Charles Seifert, Senior Product Manager, Electronic Platforms and High-Speed ​​Ethernet Solutions at Keysight.

By reducing space and power consumption per transmitted bit by up to 50%, this advancement provides a more environmentally friendly solution for expanding network infrastructure, while breaking records and setting new industry standards, better meeting the growing demand for faster and more reliable network connectivity.

The ultimate goal of 1.6T Ethernet is to enable ultra-high-speed data transmission for AI data centers—a critical factor in the context of hyperscale machine learning models that require ultra-high-speed performance to operate successfully. Network designers using GPUs and hyperscale AI infrastructure all want one thing—reliability . Reliability that their network connections will meet the demands of real-time AI processing with the highest reliability. Testing is the foundation for this reliability.

So what are the biggest challenges in 1.6T connectivity validation?

Charles Seifert: The challenge is fundamentally to ensure that every component of the signal chain, from the signal control chips to the optical components that transmit the signal, meets stringent performance and compliance requirements. This approach involves deep physical layer validation, including electrical signal integrity and optical waveform analysis, and must be performed prior to the assembly of any optical transceiver.

Once these components are integrated into the 1.6T transceiver, testing continues. The entire module is re-characterized to verify bit error rate performance, forward error correction (FEC) efficiency, and overall Ethernet compliance. Not only does it need to be “qualified,” the hardware must be reliable, high-performance, and flexible enough to support the various Ethernet speeds and applications on the network.

That's why we built a dedicated solution to simulate real-world network conditions. Our Ethernet 1.6T Network and Connectivity Performance Tester sends traffic through the transceiver and analyzes Layer 1 to Layer 2 performance - including digital Layer 1 and Layer 1.5 - helping network designers predict transceiver performance before deployment.

The key is understanding at scale . Proactively understanding transceiver performance under real-world operating conditions with real-time, high-resolution validation helps network designers gain confidence at scale—a particularly important factor as companies prepare to deploy tens of thousands or even millions of high-tech Ethernet ports across their infrastructure.

What role does software play in simplifying the validation process of complex connections?

Charles Seifert: Today, engineers must use a variety of devices to measure, monitor, and re-measure without effective tools to manage or automate this process.

Keysight’s Interconnect Test System (ITS) software addresses these challenges by making validation a simple and intelligent process. The centralized Interconnect Library automatically records, stores, and organizes detailed test data for each connection. This allows them to easily access historical test data, compare test results across devices, and manage more configurations with confidence.

The software also allows users to create and manage automated tests. With just a few inputs via a browser interface, engineers can create test scripts and execute consistent, reproducible tests across multiple setups. This process reduces manual work and increases test coverage and speed, providing key advantages in R&D and production environments.

In addition to automation, we also integrate measurement capabilities such as FEC measurement via BERT, which is particularly useful for identifying and debugging signal integrity issues during manufacturing or final assembly. These capabilities enable the validation of connection performance in terms of speed, accuracy, and reliability, at scale.

This approach reduces complexity, improves traceability, and supports automation, redefining how validation engineers do things. It transforms a traditionally slow and fragmented process into one that is agile, scalable, and future-ready.

What other challenges will engineers face in the future when validating high-speed Ethernet?

Charles Seifert: Keysight is working with the majority of standards bodies and silicon chip manufacturers, fiber optic and copper interconnect manufacturers using electrical 224Gb/s interfaces globally to accelerate the development of the 800GE and 1.6T AI network infrastructure ecosystem. Our 1.6T and 800GE hardware platforms, combined with ITS software, enable performance evaluation of critical interconnects and significantly improve the productivity of test systems. This solution provides our customers with the tools they need to deploy highly reliable and resilient solutions on the network. We demonstrated both products at the OFC Conference in San Francisco in early April .

At the same time, a demonstration of the initial joint development results between Keysight, NTT Innovative Devices and Lumentum – also took place at OFC 2025, achieving a new record optical data rate of 448 Gbps per lane. This result will facilitate the development of energy-efficient 3.2T interfaces for future cloud infrastructure in data center networks, optimized for AI and ML applications requiring ultra-fast/real-time data processing.

As Ethernet speeds increase and new standards emerge more rapidly, rapid and comprehensive component validation becomes increasingly critical. That’s why test systems must support both physical and digital validation, helping teams ensure products are functional, compliant, and ready for production. These solutions can deliver fast, consistent, and accurate measurements across the ecosystem, reducing risk, accelerating innovation, and giving manufacturers the confidence to scale.

Thank you!

Van Thanh

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/kinh-doanh/vai-tro-cua-ethernet-1-6t-trong-tuong-lai-cua-ai/20250704015533275