Point2 Technology has announced a new innovative integrated cable system that will dramatically improve data center efficiency. This new technology combines the best features from the earlier systems while providing powerful new reductions in power use, cost and latency. The company claims that their solution fits in a space that’s not quite traditional optical nor done over copper.
Point2’s groundbreaking system changes the way we think about power usage. With just one-third of the energy consumption of traditional optical cables, it’s the perfect solution for energy-efficient data centers. Further still, Point2’s cables are only one-third the cost of their optical counterparts. The system has noise, jitter and latency as low as 10^-3 of what is standard in legacy optical systems. This provides an important edge to companies seeking higher-speed data delivery.
Point2’s e-Tube cables consist of eight pairs of e-Tube fibers, with each tube carrying more than 200 gigabits per second. This stellar performance places Point2’s technology clearly at the forefront of the global race to develop a new generation of data transmission solutions.
Groundbreaking Technology Behind e-Tube Cables
Point2 has released its intentions to manufacture chips. These chips will drive a new/high-capacity cable that will transmit data at an amazing speed of 1.6 terabits per second. This cable consists of eight slender polymer waveguides, with each waveguide supporting a transmission capacity of 448 gigabits per second through two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz.
The e-Tube cable uses a proprietary single silicon chip that takes any incoming digital data and converts it into modulated mmWave frequencies. Antenna attached at each end of the cable allow the signal to radiate into the waveguide, supporting extremely high data rates. Unmatched architecture Point2’s centralized system architecture allows them to deliver at least 224gbps transmission—ensured bandwidth.
In April, Point2 demonstrated the capabilities of its technology by successfully transmitting data over a distance of four meters at a frequency of 970 GHz during the Optical Fiber Communications Conference. This achievement showcases the potential impact of the e-Tube cables in everyday applications.
Efficiency and Reliability in Data Transmission
Point2 has taken great strides in improving cable system performance and reliability. Through its second-generation cable, the company has optimized losses to a mere 0.3 decibels per meter. This performance is up to tenfold better than what conventional copper cables achieve when transporting the equivalent of 224 gigabits per second.
Dave Welch, a representative from Point2, elaborated on the advantages of their technology compared to existing systems: “Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics.” Welch further stressed that electronics are fundamentally more reliable than optics. This focus on reliability and efficiency is exactly why Point2’s approach is so attractive to organizations focused on quality.
Additionally, Point2’s technology is built to scale. Welch noted, “If I didn’t have to be at an optical wavelength, where should I be?” This question highlights the depth of Point2’s creative approach to making data flow through data centers more efficiently.
Funding and Future Prospects
As a testament to that incredible momentum, Point2 Technology has captured massive attention from investors, raising a cool $55 million in venture funding. Notably, funding support came from well-known computer cables and connections manufacturer Molex, indicating confidence in Point2’s innovative vision and technology.
The firm has long been at the forefront of the use of radio technology inside data centers. It’s been on this push longer than its competition, AttoTude. Armed with fresh capital and the latest technology, Point2 has come to play. Together they’re poised to hyper-impact data transmission solutions.
Point2 is pretty clearly still in the process of actively refining its products and expanding its capabilities. The developers anticipate their waveguide technology will deliver the ability to transmit data through distances up to 20 meters. This invention should make them and their flexible, lightweight e-Tube cables even more applicable, useful and adaptable in a wide variety of environments.