Key takeaways
- Keysight acquires Spirent Communications for approximately £1.16 billion to enhance its technology portfolio.
- Integration aims to bolster capabilities in software test automation, network assurance, and satellite navigation.
- The acquisition will enable improved customer support from design to deployment with enhanced testing solutions.
- Spirent's expertise in 5G, cloud, and autonomous systems will strengthen Keysight's offerings in emerging tech.
- Keysight plans to advance development in 6G and non-terrestrial networks post-acquisition.
Keysight Technologies has completed its acquisition of the British telecom company Spirent Communications, the companies announced on October 17. The deal, valued at approximately £1.16 billion (~$1.46 billion), will see Spirent integrated into Keysight’s Communications Solutions Group.
Spirent’s shares are set to be delisted from the London Stock Exchange on the same day. The acquisition aims to expand Keysight’s capabilities in software test automation, network assurance and satellite navigation technologies.
The acquisition brings Spirent’s expertise across 5G, cloud, autonomous systems, and GNSS into Keysight’s portfolio. Keysight said the integration will enable customers to move from design to deployment with improved testing and assurance.
Satish Dhanasekaran, president and CEO of Keysight, said, “By combining Keysight’s leading design, emulation, and test expertise with Spirent’s strengths in satellite emulation, positioning, and network automation, we are expanding the breadth of our portfolio to better serve our customers.”
Keysight stated that customers will gain more comprehensive lifecycle support, including monitoring and analytics. The company plans to advance capabilities in 6G development and non-terrestrial networks as well.
The transaction followed approvals from regulators, including the US justice department, the UK competition and markets authority, and agencies in France, Germany and China.
As part of commitments made to regulators, Keysight and Spirent agreed to divest Spirent’s high-speed Ethernet, network security and channel emulation business lines, with completion expected to be done by yesterday.
Spirent’s operations and financials will now be reported under Keysight. The company said the move will strengthen end-to-end solutions for sectors including aerospace, defence, industrial automation and general electronics.
