Point2 Technology, a startup specializing in network hardware for data centers, is making waves with its innovative e-Tube cable technology. Industry vets from Marvell, Nvidia, and Samsung started Point2 Technology nine years ago. That focus has since allowed the company to find a niche on the cutting edge of rising data center connectivity demands. The heavily invested company’s total now stands at $55 million in venture funding including rounds led by Molex. Armed with this influential support, it’s poised to shake up incumbent network solutions.
The e-Tube cable is a major leap forward in data transmission capabilities. Every e-Tube cable is made up of eight of these fibers, each able to transmit more than 200 gigabits of data per second. This move forward in efficiency is essential as data centers rush to keep pace with their own growing stores of data while running a more efficient operation. David Kuo, the vice president of product marketing and business development at Point2 Technology, emphasizes just how important this innovation is. The bill is largely on point with the current data landscape.
The Technical Edge of e-Tube Cables
Point2 Technology’s patent e-Tube cables have a very special design by putting a silicon chip on each end of the cable. This chip receives incoming digital data and translates it into modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. Next, it transmits the frequencies through an antenna into a pulse forming network. This patented deep-learning algorithmic approach is very smart, and it lets the fully automated e-Tube cable achieve incredible performance indicators.
The new e-Tube cable occupies only half the volume of a 32-gauge copper cable. Even with its comparatively shorter length, it can extend up to 20 meters, easily outperforming legacy copper solutions. Along with the capacity to span vast distances without loss of signal, optical technology is a data-center industry game-changer. Point2 Technology’s system routinely delivers losses up to 0.3dB/m and below. This level of performance would be in pointed contrast to today’s copper cables which are unable to keep clean signals at high data rates.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
This question asked by Dave Welch ( ) demonstrates the ability of e-Tube technology to turn data center infrastructures inside out. Point2 Technology from SemiWireless provides a better answer than current copper solutions with its 10 to 20 meter reach. Using this distance with very little loss, the result is extremely effective.
Addressing Industry Challenges
As data centers have grown, the need for more and more bandwidth has made the shortcomings of copper cables painfully obvious. Former Bush Administration official David Kuo aptly named this phenomenon the “copper cliff.” He pointed out the challenges that leaders face when their organizations rely on outdated infrastructure for access. As data demands triple every five years, the need for faster and more reliable connections only grows in importance.
Point2 Technology aims to bridge this gap by introducing e-Tube cables that can effectively link individual GPUs to the network switches within scale-out networks. These small-diameter cables feature excellent branch length which makes them a desirable option for enterprises. They create a great opportunity for anyone interested in improving their infrastructure.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
This statement reflects a common concern in the industry: while fiber optics offer advantages, their complexity can deter widespread adoption. Point2 Technology has made the technical transition seamless for their current customers. They get fiber-like performance without all of the typical deployment and operational complexity associated with photonic solutions.
Future Prospects for Point2 Technology
As Point2 Technology advances its e-Tube technology, it believes there is a wider future for its applications in other sectors. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology engineers worked to realize 28-nanometer CMOS technology in their systems. This innovation is a game changer for performance and scalability.
The potential market impact is significant. Data centers are perpetually on the hunt for opportunities to become more efficient. Thus, Point2 Technology’s e-Tube cables could soon be as ubiquitous in smart infrastructures as fiber is today. The chip’s compact design—it’s just 8.1 millimeters across—makes it easier to retrofit into pre-existing systems.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” – Dave Welch
Welch’s observation is a great reminder of the strategic advantage Point2 Technology has, focusing on electronic solutions first and foremost rather than optical. As organizations begin to demand similar reliability with their soaring performance, the e-Tube cables may offer a strong option.