Point2 Technology announces introduction of world’s first electronic, smart, customized e-Tube cable. This innovation has the potential to significantly increase data transmission rates in data center settings. This cutting-edge technology boasts eight e-Tube fibers, each fiber able to transmit more than 200 gigabits of data per second. Point2 Technology increasingly, businesses, governments, and organizations are pushing demand for faster, more streamlined data processing at all levels. Those are all great innovations at a moment when companies such as Nvidia are investing billions in their own GPU infrastructure.
The e-Tube cable promises a slim design, at just 8.1 millimeters in diameter. That’s just a fraction of the volume of legacy AEC cables. This compact design doesn’t save real estate—it helps reduce energy use and expenses too. According to the company, its system uses just one-third of the energy required by optical cables. It costs only one-third what they charge and provides latency rates that are one-thousandth of what’s currently available.
Pioneering Technology in Data Transmission
Point2 Technology’s e-Tube cable uses eight small polymer waveguides specially made to move information at extraordinary rates. Each waveguide is capable to transport a whopping 448 gigabits per second using just two frequencies—90 gigahertz and 225 gigahertz. This powerful combination enables the cables to truly outperform outdated copper solutions. They support high fidelity data transmission over 10-20 meter distances with minimal degradation.
David Kuo, vice president of product marketing and business development at Point2 Technology, made a big deal about the e-Tube’s importance. Relatedly, he explained how it is trying to meet the growing burdens imposed by data centers. “Our technology not only increases speed but enables more efficient use of space and energy,” Kuo stated. “As data needs escalate, innovative solutions like the e-Tube will be crucial for maintaining performance across networks.”
Point2 Technology is helping improve speed and efficiency. Later this year, they’ll start producing chips for a record-setting 1.6-terabit-per-second cable. This major step forward is an example of the company’s focus on stretching the limits of what is possible in data transmission capacity.
The Competitive Landscape
Point2 Technology was created nearly nine years ago by a group of industry veterans from Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung. To date, it has loaded an impressive $55 million in venture capital funding. Influential businesses, such as Molex—a major player in computer cabling and connections—have been large supporters. With the ever-increasing need for faster data transmission, Point2 Technology is primed to take advantage of these new burgeoning opportunities.
Besides Point2 Technology, at least four other startups are working on similar innovations that seek to make big changes to high-speed data transmission. To take just one example, AttoTude is developing technology that uses terahertz frequencies to move massive amounts of data quickly. Their system has a digital part that communicates with GPUs. It consists of a terahertz-frequency generator and a signal mixer that encodes data onto the terahertz wave. Dave Welch of AttoTude believes their new waveguide technology has the capacity to allow for record breaking distances in data transmission. On land, they could grow nearly 20 meters!
Don Barnetson, senior vice president and head of product at Credo, a provider of network hardware for data centers, commented on the competitive dynamics within this sector. “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can,” Barnetson emphasized. This statement underscores the prevailing reliance on established technologies while highlighting the potential shift towards more advanced solutions like Point2’s e-Tube.
Future Implications for Data Centers
Point2 Technology’s new e-Tube cable debut comes just as enterprises and service providers around the globe are re-assessing their data center infrastructures. Closer to home, Nvidia is working on bumping the maximum number of GPUs allowed per system from 72 all the way up to 576 by 2027. This ambitious plan will undoubtedly make an immediate case for stronger data transmission solutions.
As organizations increase their outreach and definitely as they expand globally, they experience increased data burdens. They need to consider the pros and cons of different transmission technologies. Welch noted, “Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics.” This sentiment captures a larger uncertainty among end-users about the challenges involved with optical technologies.
Welch’s analysis showed electronics to be more reliable than optics. “Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics,” he stated, further supporting the shift some companies may consider towards electronic-based solutions like Point2’s e-Tube.