Keysight

Keysight Technologies, Inc.
Company type	Public
Industry	Electronic test and measurement instruments, software
Predecessor	Agilent Technologies (spin-off)
Founded	2014; 12 years ago
Headquarters	Santa Rosa, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, atomic force microscopes, automated optical and X-ray inspection devices, in-circuit testers, power supplies, tunable lasers, optical power meters, wavelength meters, electro-optic converters, optical modulation analyzers, handheld testing tools, electronic design automation software

Keysight Technologies, Inc. is a U.S.-based enterprise focused on producing electronic test and measurement instruments along with related software solutions. The company's name merges the concepts of key and insight. It originated as a spin-off from Agilent Technologies, which itself had taken over and rebranded the test and measurement product lines initially created by Hewlett-Packard's Test & Measurement division spanning from the late 1960s until the early 2000s.

Products

Keysight provides an extensive selection of both hardware and software designed for benchtop, modular, and portable instruments. Its offerings encompass oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, atomic force microscopes (AFM), automated optical and X-ray inspection devices, in-circuit testers, power supplies, tunable lasers, optical power meters, wavelength meters, electro-optic converters, optical modulation analyzers, as well as handheld testing tools. Moreover, through its PathWave Design segment, Keysight develops electronic design automation (EDA) software. The company’s primary clientele includes sectors such as telecommunications, aerospace and defense, industrial applications, computing, and semiconductors.

Acquisitions

In 2015, Keysight expanded its capabilities by acquiring British electronic measurement instrument manufacturer Anite for £388 million ($607 million). Two years later, in 2017, it acquired data technology firm Ixia for roughly $1.6 billion in cash. To bolster its software testing portfolio, Keysight purchased UK-based Eggplant Software from The Carlyle Group in 2020 for $330 million. Between 2019 and 2021, the company concentrated on advancing 5G technologies with new products such as the Infiniium UXR-Series oscilloscopes. In 2023, Keysight acquired France’s ESI Group for close to $1 billion. Most recently in 2024, it successfully outbid Viavi Solutions to acquire British telecommunications testing firm Spirent for $1.5 billion.

Controversies

On August 3, 2021, Keysight entered into a Consent Agreement with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and the Department of State ("DTCC") to address alleged breaches of the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR"). The settlement included a $6.6 million penalty to be paid over three years; $2.5 million of this was suspended contingent upon remediation efforts such as appointing a dedicated compliance officer. The suspended amount was offset by eligible compliance-related expenditures. By April 23, 2024, Keysight completed the final payment totaling $4.1 million. Subsequently, on May 3, 2024, the company certified to the DTCC that it had fully complied with the Consent Agreement and that its compliance program effectively prevents ITAR violations.

Research and development

Between 2014 and 2020, Keysight substantially increased its research and development expenditure from approximately 12% to 16% of its revenue, nearly doubling its absolute R&D budget during that period.

Awards

In 2014, Keysight was honored with the Global Frost & Sullivan award recognizing market leadership attributed to its $300 million revenue from instrumentation software. The accolade highlighted the company's significant commitment to R&D, which amounted to $365 million in 2013 (12% of revenue). Additionally, Keysight achieved the #46 spot on Forbes’ “America’s Best Midsize Companies” list and held the same rank on Fortune's 2022 “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

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