Point2 Technology, a startup behind founding veterans from Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung, is poised to change everything we know about data center operation. They’ll do this by integrating radio technology into the very systems that communicate. Established nine years ago, the company has successfully raised $55 million in venture funding, with notable investment from Molex, a leading maker of computer cables and connections. This funding will help Point2 Technology realize its ambitious plans to create next-generation cables that maximize data transmission efficiency by an order of magnitude.
Perhaps the most revolutionary part of Point2 Technology’s innovation is their e-Tube cable, which consists of eight e-Tube fibers. Each fiber has a capacity of well over 200 gigabits of data per second. The truly jaw-dropping potential lies in information-center infrastructure. The company has ambitious plans to start making chips for a multiterabit-per-second cable that would use eight of those narrow polymer waveguides. This new cable can transmit 448 gigabits per second by utilizing two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz.
Advancements in Cable Technology
Point2 Technology’s e-Tube cable has multiple benefits compared to the other standard cables. Notably, it occupies just half the volume of comparable Active Electrical Cables (AECs), making it an efficient option for data centers seeking to maximize space. The e-Tube cable has a serious 20-meter maximum length. This far increases the distance for data transmission when placed in contrast to older copper cables.
David Kuo, the vice president of product marketing and business development at Point2 Technology, emphasized the importance of this innovation. “Our technology not only provides higher bandwidth but reduces the physical footprint required for cabling in data centers,” Kuo stated.
The benefits don’t stop there. Point2 Technology’s e-Tube cable takes up just half the room of a 32-gauge copper cable, while it still provides a reach that’s 20 times as far. This impressive efficiency, as well as the resulting lucrative business case, make the technology a serious contender in the industry.
Demonstrating Potential
Last April, Point2 Technology put its technology through its paces at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference. There, it shattered its own record with a 4-meter transmission at an astounding frequency of 970 GHz. This demonstration highlighted the incredible speed and bandwidth possibilities made available by their cutting-edge tech.
Together the technologies developed by Point2 Technology produce the efficiency to have 224 gigabits per second transmission. Together, these advancements represent a major leap forward in addressing the data-hungry demand of today’s modern data centers.
Dave Welch, a veteran of the industry, spoke to how electrons are a lot more reliable and effective than optics. “Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics,” Welch remarked, highlighting the advantages that Point2 Technology’s approach may offer.
Future Applications and Impact
Point2 Technology plans to utilize its AECs primarily to connect individual GPUs to network switches that form scale-out networks within data centers. This strategic focus is intended to improve the performance and reliability of the existing network.
AT&T’s Don Barnetson outlined the company’s transition away from old copper-based systems. He was especially impressed with the cutting-edge technologies that Point2 Technology has to offer. He stated, “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.” The broader industry is slowly making progress toward cleaner, more efficient solutions. This change is a welcome development, especially as the data needs are ever increasing.
Barnetson added that “the entire reason people have gone to liquid cooling is to keep scaling up in passive copper,” indicating that Point2 Technology’s innovations could provide an alternative pathway for those looking to optimize their infrastructure without relying on outdated technologies.