Path to 800G: Technical Challenges & Testing Strategies
White Paper
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 VIAVI'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.
Download the white paper to learn:
- Why 800G deployments require a shift in test methodology
- How Auto-Negotiation and Link Training (AN/LT) issues impact early silicon
- Why FEC and physical layer health must be validated proactively
- The high cost of optical debugging and how to mitigate it
- Real-world testing strategies from hyperscalers, NEMs, chipset vendors, and others
Starting early with validation—before standards fully stabilize and hardware is locked—is critical to avoiding costly delays and design rework. The paper outlines how forward-looking test strategies can support a faster, more efficient path to reliable 800G deployments.
Whether you're developing ASICs, validating transceivers, integrating switches, or deploying infrastructure to support AI, cloud, and edge use cases, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the technical hurdles—and industry best practices for overcoming them.
Get expert insight into the challenges that matter and how to solve them.
This former Spirent business is now part of VIAVI.
Download the white paper to explore the key technical challenges and proven testing strategies needed to design, develop and deploy 800G-capable next-gen devices with confidence—ensuring a seamless transition to higher speeds through trusted, high-performance Ethernet validation.
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