Keysight Technologies has introduced the Velocity 4900 Series, a new range of Layer 1 automation switches designed to address one of the persistent bottlenecks in network test labs: manual physical connectivity.
As AI infrastructure, 6G networks and next-generation services become more complex, engineering teams need to test larger numbers of configurations while reducing the time spent physically rewiring equipment. Keysight says traditional manual testbed configuration can leave expensive equipment underutilised, restrict remote access and create configuration errors that slow development.
The Velocity 4900 Series replaces much of that manual work with software-controlled Layer 1 connectivity. Engineers can create, save, modify and reproduce physical test topologies through a graphical interface, while authorised teams can remotely share test resources across locations.
“Engineering teams developing services and infrastructure to support AI, 6G, and next-generation systems need test environments that can change as rapidly as the technologies they are creating. The Velocity 4900 Series gives organizations a practical and cost-effective way to begin modernizing the physical lab.”
— Anil Kollipara, Vice President and General Manager, Automated Testing and Assurance, Keysight
The initial portfolio includes the Velocity 4902, supporting Ethernet speeds from 100 Mbps to 100 Gbps through 72 QSFP28 ports, and the Velocity 4906, offering 288 SFP28 ports supporting speeds from 100 Mbps to 25 Gbps.
Both switches provide transparent Layer 1 forwarding with ultra-low latency and support fibre, direct-attach copper and active optical cables. Port tapping and one-to-many traffic replication also enable broader diagnostics and more efficient use of traffic-generation resources.
The strategic value extends beyond connectivity. Integrated with the wider Keysight Velocity portfolio, the switches can provide a foundation for resource reservation, lab orchestration, automated testing and CI/CD workflows.
This effectively moves physical test infrastructure closer to the software-defined development model already common in modern engineering. Instead of treating lab topology as a fixed physical constraint, teams can make it programmable, repeatable and remotely accessible.
The Velocity 4902 and 4906 are available for order, with initial deliveries planned for January 2027.