Point2, a visionary technology company, is committed to making the data center as efficient and green as possible. They are pioneering new, disruptive radio frequency technology to change the industry for good. Technology leadership Point2 is committed to building smarter, more effective communication tools. Their effort has been well underway for more time than their competitor AttoTude has been on this initiative. The company’s patented approach is to use terahertz-frequency signals in the 300 to 3,000 GHz range. Such technology holds the potential to change the way data is transmitted in data centers.
Point2’s innovative system has a digital component that plugs straight into the GPU. It has a terahertz-frequency generator and a mixer, installed near the antenna interface, which encodes data onto the terahertz signal. This cutting-edge technology enhances performance and expands capacity in data transmission. It truly hits the mark of today’s growing needs in data center environment.
Efficient e-Tube Cable Technology
At the core of Point2’s tech innovation is its e-Tube cable, which include eight thin polymer waveguides. Each waveguide is capable of carrying an impressive 448 gigabits per second using two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz. Each of its fibers carries more than a TERABIT—1.6 terabits per second to be exact—of capacity. This exceptional efficiency makes it a leading contender in the rapidly evolving space of fast data transmission technologies.
Ranked No. 6, the e-Tube cable’s thinner, more compact design allows for slimmer direct-attach cables. That is no small feat when its diameter is only 8.1 millimeters. This smaller footprint allows for more efficient and easier installation, contributing to a more efficient data center overall. The e-Tube cable occupies half the cross-section area of a 32-gauge copper cable. It offers up to 20x the reach, offering you incredible freedom in your data center designs.
David Kuo, vice president of product marketing and business development at Point2, noted the critical need for innovation in data transmission as bandwidth demands on copper cables approach the terabit-per-second realm. He stated, “Physics demands that they be made shorter and thicker,” highlighting the limitations faced by existing technologies.
Power Consumption and Latency Advantages
Another impressive feature of Point2’s technology is efficient power consumption. The e-Tube system consumes only one third of the energy compared to conventional optical systems. This produces a low carbon alternative that can be used in its place. Point2’s adaptive technology cuts power consumption dramatically and delivers latency with reliability and consistency to one-thousandth of conventional optical technologies. This benefit allows for ultra-high-speed data processing never seen before.
In real-world use cases, Point2’s waveguide can robustly transmit data over distances of 20m and more. This unique capability reduces or removes the need for expensive and hard-to-maintain inline signal boosters or repeaters that are generally necessary in longer-distance optical links. As Don Barnetson pointed out, “It’s the only nonredundant hop in the network,” emphasizing the streamlined nature of Point2’s solution.
Point2 has demonstrated the potential of its technology through a series of successful demonstration projects. Indeed, last April’s Optical Fiber Communications Conference was notable for its 4-meter transmission at 970 GHz! These displays highlight how terahertz technology can revolutionize the way we communicate with data.
Investment and Future Manufacturing Plans
Point2 has made amazing technological strides already. It’s backed by a staggering $55 million in venture funding, led by industry heavyweights like Molex, the longtime manufacturer of computer cables and connections. As Point2 prepares to bring its new technologies into full-scale production, this funding will go toward further research and development efforts and future Point2 manufacturing plans.
Point2 will start manufacturing these chips later this year, and their technology will be what drives their cutting-edge 1.6-terabit-per-second cable. This decision is a significant step forward in helping them get their technology to market. Now, data centers across the world will benefit from increased efficiencies and performance.
“Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics,” stated Dave Welch, underscoring the challenges faced in current optical systems. He continued by noting that “electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics,” which supports Point2’s shift towards radio frequency technology.
Point2 is hard at work continuing to innovate on its groundbreaking solutions. It’s poised to have a profound impact on the future of data center operations and energy efficiency.