Path to 800G: Technical Challenges & Testing Strategies

As global demand for data skyrockets, network operators, hyperscalers, and equipment vendors are moving rapidly toward 800G Ethernet and beyond to meet the performance needs of modern, bandwidth-intensive workloads. But this leap from 400G to 800G isn’t just a speed upgrade—it introduces new levels of complexity across optical, electrical, and protocol layers that must be addressed early in the design and deployment process.

This white paper explores the real-world challenges 800G adopters are facing and shares key lessons learned from Spirent’s testing work across the entire Ethernet ecosystem. From signal integrity and PAM4 encoding to interoperability, link flaps, and thermal constraints, the risks are significant—but manageable with the right test strategy and solutions.