Point2 Technology, Inc. is a leading provider of high speed data transfer solutions. These solutions set the stage to significantly improve data center operation efficiency, or PUE. Industry veterans from Marvell, Nvidia, and Samsung founded Point2 Technology nine years ago. Including that round from Molex, they’ve now raised a total of $55 million in venture funding. The firm is working with engineers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Collectively, they are developing a game-changing project that will transform the future of data transmission.
The project focuses on developing a 1.6-terabit-per-second cable that utilizes advanced 28-nanometer CMOS technology, which has been in use since 2010. To do so, this non-metallic cable uses eight individual, ultrathin polymer light pipes. Each one can transmit an impressive 448 gigabits per second over distances of 20 meters. Point2 seamlessly combines electronic and terahertz-frequency technologies. This method provides a quicker, cheaper, and less power-hungry solution compared to conventional optical systems.
Innovation in Data Transfer
The new e-Tube cable from Point2 Technology is set to dramatically alter the future of data transmission. The cable is expected to enter mass production later this year. Its small form factor, which is only 8.1 millimeters wide! This unique design causes the e-Tube cable to occupy only half the space of like AEC cables. As such, it has naturally become the ideal solution for data centers looking to do more with less space and greater efficiency.
The e-Tube cable has clear advantages over traditional copper cables. It provides a distance that can go 20 times further than regular copper wires. Yet, at the same time, it provides an impressive amount of power savings. The system uses only one third of the energy needed for an optical technology while costing one third the price.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
Rethinking Traditional Technologies
Point2 Technology, Inc. is rethinking the way data transmission technology has always been defined. The company’s approach solves many of the major problems tied to optical technology, including latency and energy usage. The new system boasts latency rates as low as one-thousandth that of optical technology, significantly improving performance in time-sensitive applications.
This leap forward in data transfer capabilities allows Point2 to address what industry insiders refer to as the “copper cliff.” As David Kuo once brilliantly pointed out, this was a classic fool-me-twice phenomenon. He made a passionate case about the dire situation requiring innovation in how we transmit data.
“We call it the copper cliff.” – David Kuo
Point2 Technology’s solution further alleviates challenges from link flap, a frequent affliction plaguing systems that leverage photonics. Point2 is minimizing its dependency on optical wavelengths. This strategic move better positions the company to lead the way in developing innovative solutions that are changing the face of data centers’ growing needs.
Future Prospects
Now in the run-up to mass production, Point2 Technology has focused on its e-Tube cable. After all, industry experts are abuzz with the idea that this innovation could revolutionize data centers worldwide. Together speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness make the company’s unique offerings competitive in a fast growing market.
Point2 is a technology company, dedicated to developing the best technology. They want to redefine the outer limits of what data transfer can be. The second-generation cable holds the promise of even greater performance, with losses reduced to 0.3 decibels per meter.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
This question is representative of Point2’s philosophy of being big believers in continuous improvement, and of course, innovation. We combine the latest technologies with aerospace engineering to solve today’s challenges. They don’t just stop at what is currently needed, they foresee within the entire data center ecosystem.