June 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Monday said it

will require asset divestitures before allowing Keysight

Technologies ( KEYS ) to complete its all-cash purchase of

Spirent Communications ( SPNUF ).

In court filings, the U.S. Department of Justice said the

proposed merger of two of the largest global providers of high

speed ethernet testing, network security testing and radio

frequency channel emulators might otherwise substantially lessen

competition and harm customers, violating antitrust law.

Keysight ( KEYS ), based in Santa Rosa, California, agreed in March

2024 to buy U.K.-based Spirent for 1.16 billion British pounds

(now about $1.56 billion).

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York)