Because the yr winds down, right here’s a glance again at among the main tales masking the largest highlights of check and measurement in 2025
2025 was a momentous yr. Not in the identical approach yearly is looking back — however in a really actual sense. It hit many milestones, noticed many newsworthy developments — and would possibly I say, setbacks — and based on some, shall be regarded again as a serious turning level.
Though its not totally potential to wrap up the affairs of a whole calendar yr in a single put up, I’ve tried to distill down what issues, and pull collectively the main tales that outlined T&M this yr.
A moonshot, actually: An orbital information heart prototype designed by Axiom Area and Purple Hat reaches the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) to check the waters for space-based computing. The “free-flyer nodes” are supposed to function a testbed for launching future, full-scale Axiom Orbital Knowledge Facilities (ODC) to assist authorities and industrial use instances.
Survivability of chips in house: Researchers on the College of Florida, in collaboration with NASA, MIT, Vanguard Automation, AIM Photonics, and the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute of Germany, launch a set of photonic AI chips into house. The mission seeks to check how supplies and gadgets behave when uncovered to house radiation within the low Earth orbit atmosphere — a step that pushes photonic semiconductors nearer to being a part of satellite tv for pc communication techniques, autonomous spacecrafts, and sensing applied sciences of the long run.
Diversification in downturn: Squeezed by the telco funding stoop, many T&M suppliers are adjusting their deal with profitable finish markets like AI information heart, NTN/satellite tv for pc, and protection modernization. Keysight caps off the yr with good numbers regardless of tariffs and macroeconomic tensions, pointing to AI-fueled development and forays into high-growth sectors.
5G SA push in Europe: Spirent is the most recent member to hitch Vodafone’s 5G SA bandwagon. The community check and assurance firm helps Vodafone speed up rollout of software program and companies on the provider’s 5G voice core infrastructure in Europe with a fully-automated software program testing platform which, down the highway, shall be obtainable to different carriers as nicely.
PoC for multi-orbit mobility: Keysight, KT Sat completes the primary GEO-to-LEO handover in an experiment that exhibits potential for ubiquitous connectivity and Web for All.
Nvidia’s $2B stake in Synopsys: The daring transfer which is without doubt one of the many Nvidia made this yr, spurs worries in regards to the world’s most beneficial firm’s tightening grip on the semiconductor business — and its capability to affect unbiased business our bodies just like the Extremely Accelerator Hyperlink (UALink) Consortium that develop competing open-source options. On a constructive be aware, the collaboration is predicted to strengthen simulation and digital twin applied sciences — now essential in lots of sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, and vitality — in 2026.
Wi-Fi 8 arrives early, testing follows: Transferring early, Broadcom introduced a set of Wi-Fi 8 options to the market — and testing companion Rohde & Schwarz joins in to check and validate them, making approach for an early arrival of Wi-Fi 8.
6G R&D in full swing: Nokia, in its mission to construct the proper radio receiver for 6G that evades the inherent sign distortion and protection problems with 6G bands, joins arms with check big R&S. The 2 unveiled an AI-powered receiver earlier on the Brooklyn 6G Summit that seeks to expedite 6G deployment.
Keysight, Viavi full acquisition of Spirent: The largest high-profile M&A narrative of this yr is Keysight and Viavi’s two-way acquisition of Spirent. The businesses wrap up the long-drawn acquisition this yr, including Spirent’s belongings into their respective companies. Whereas Keysight will get the lion’s share, Viavi finally ends up snagging probably the most contested traces: high-speed Ethernet testing, community safety testing, and RF channel emulation.
Synopsys completes Ansys acquisition: One other lengthy M&A saga involves an finish this yr. After 18 months of negotiations and regulatory scrutiny, the EDA firm acquires Ansys for $35 billion — a transfer that opens the door for a deeper integration of electronics and physics, and unlocks simulation-enhanced designing in semiconductor growth.
Community observability tendencies: A number of key tendencies form out in community observability — key amongst these is in fact AI. Many T&M corporations are seen dabbling in AI in an effort to reinforce community monitoring methods like packet seize and repair assurance.
Keysight delivers first industrial quantum management system: Able to controlling over a thousand superconducting qubits, the system is the primary of its type. It at the moment serves as an analysis testbed on the International Analysis and Improvement Middle for Enterprise by Quantum-AI Expertise (G-QuAT).
FCC strikes on testing labs with Chinese language ties: In a bid to de-risk the provision chain, the Federal Communications Fee cracks down on “unhealthy labs” with tie to China that examined and licensed gadgets to be used within the U.S.
NTN meets a testing hurdle: The broader rollout and success of non-terrestrial community (NTN) connectivity hinges on how nicely the frequencies and situations are emulated within the lab — a requirement forcing many corporations to up their testing sport.
The rise of digital twins: The business is shifting quick to undertake digital twins, a know-how that takes easy information fashions of yesterday to real-time, futuristic replicas of bodily belongings, techniques, and processes, unlocking the magic of predictive upkeep. On the forefront of that motion are T&M giants like Viavi and Spirent.
With that, it’s a wrap for 2025. Pleased holidays, and I’ll see within the new yr.
