800G Ethernet Testing

The explosion of Edge computing, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), and AI applications are set to significantly increase demand from their networks as new requirements accelerate the adoption of higher speed Ethernet connectivity solutions to satisfy these data needs. This trend is disrupting traditional timelines for the development and availability of connectivity technologies and will have a major impact on the ecosystem powering these new technologies, including Network Equipment Manufacturers, Data Center operators, interconnect manufacturers and system integrators. According to Dell’Oro Group, the pace of migration from 800 Gbps to 1600 Gbps will be nearly twice as fast as what we have typically observed in traditional front-end networks connecting general-purpose servers.

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.