Point2 is a pioneering technology company on the cusp of revolutionizing data center connectivity. Their revolutionary e-Tube cable system is a game changer. The company’s vision is to bring the level of impetus radio technology has driven into data centers, improving efficiency and performance. Point2’s solution is characterized by innovative design with eight e-Tube fibers. By utilizing each fiber to transmit data at more than 200 gigabits per second, it achieves significant advances in speed, power usage and cost efficiency over existing optical systems.
Additionally, the e-Tube technology uses just one-third the energy that optical wires use. Not to mention, it’s one-third the cost! What’s more, it has latency that can be one-thousandth of what’s achieved in typical optical links. The e-Tube features a highly miniaturized design that occupies only a third of the space of an assembled 32-gauge copper cable. With the potential to reach 20 times greater distances, it presents a compelling option for today’s high-density data centers looking to optimize space and performance.
Point2 is also preparing to chip fabrication. These chips will power a revolutionary cable, transmitting an amazing speed of 1.6 terabits per second by cramming in eight thin polymer waveguides. This major breakthrough is yet another testament to Point2’s longstanding commitment to pioneering the future of data transmission technology.
The Mechanics Behind Point2’s e-Tube
Point2’s e-Tube cable works by sending data through a compact silicon chip that transmits incoming digital information as modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. An antenna then efficiently radiates these frequencies into the same waveguide creating an efficient data transmission process. The second-generation cables are only 200 µm in diameter. Delivering world-class performance with an attenuation of only 0.3 decibels per meter, our solutions are ideal for the most cost-controlled and data-heavy environments—the data center.
“In electronics, you start with passive copper and do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can,” said Don Barnetson. This very reductive approach illustrates our deep reliance on classic elements. Simultaneously, it foreshadows the technological and innovative progress that could eventually replace them.
Given optical technologies, Point2’s technology is best positioned to leapfrog them in certain applications especially inside transceiver-processor packages. The start-up raised $55 million in venture capital. One of the most successful initiatives was those investments from industry titans like global networking events Molex, which produces computer cables and connections.
Competitive Landscape and Industry Reactions
Point2 is growing full steam ahead, and we’re excited about the road ahead. The bad news is that it has to face increasing competition from new entrants such as AttoTude, which advocates a hybrid route using both radio and optical technologies together. Though both companies are looking to solve the same challenges, they have very different approaches.
And every day, Nvidia is dominating the headlines with even bolder plans. They plan to fundamentally increase the upper limit of GPU per system, increasing it from 72 to a staggering 576 by 2027. This ambitious goal highlights the increasing need for more robust, high-speed connectivity solutions within data centers. Earlier this month, Nvidia and Broadcom announced the co-packaging of optical transceivers with processors. This tactic is another reminder of just how cutthroat the competition is between carriers.
Dave Welch, a prominent figure in the industry, commented on the current state of technology: “Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics.” This sense of hesitance apparently still lingers with respect to the complexity, reliability, and maturity of optical systems versus their electronic counterparts. Welch further noted that “electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics,” pointing towards a potential preference shift among data center operators.
The Future of Data Center Connectivity
Point2’s innovations might be “the real prize” for data centers, which have long sought to improve performance while decreasing costs. Welch remarked on the scalability of such technologies, stating that it “happens to be a beautiful distance for scale-up in data centers.” Point2 is on the cutting edge developing and deploying e-Tube technology. Through this innovation, the agency could establish new benchmarks for transmission data achievements.
Point2’s work goes beyond just convenience to improve transparency, trust, and get citizens engaged. It addresses important issues of efficiency and reliability, especially as data needs continue to increase exponentially. The broader industry is changing fast. Point2’s recent advancements are creating new opportunities for future innovations that will further increase data center speed and sustainability.