Point2 Technology, a Mlab incubator startup leveraging high speed data-center interconnectivity, is one of several startups making waves in the DC/SC space. Orchard Cable Accessories’ mission is to transform the way data is transferred inside of data centers by bringing new advanced cabling products to the market. David Kuo, the vice president of product marketing and business development at Point2 Technology, highlights the urgency of improving connectivity as demands for data processing escalate.
Nvidia’s plan is even more ambitious, increasing the maximum number of GPUs per system from 72 to 576 by 2027. This drastic influx in data only increases the demand for more robust data transfer capabilities. Point2 Technology’s intelligent networking cabling solutions deliver on this promise today – in dramatically less space, and for less money.
Advancements in Cabling Technology
Point2 Technology’s e-Tube cables are designed to transmit large volumes of data. Each e-Tube is made of eight artificial fibers. Each fiber has the capacity of more than 200 gigabits of data a second! This cutting-edge design enables a total of 1.6 terabits per second, far exceeding the capabilities of conventional copper cables.
These e-Tube cables are 1/12 th the cross section of a 32-gauge copper cable. They can achieve ranges that are 15 to 20 times greater. The reduced form factor increases the cable reach up to 20 meters, offering greater freedom of design in the data center chassis. This progress overcomes the shortcomings of traditional copper cables, which are currently challenged by high power consumption and latency concerns.
Fewer moving parts mean Point2 Technology’s system requires only a third as much power as traditional optical systems to operate. Not to mention, it’s offered at a third of the price! Point2’s solution offers significantly lower latency, as low as one-thousandth of a second versus conventional optical connections. This powerful ability makes it a tough competitor to beat in the described market.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
The focus on reducing latency and energy use directly responds to industry priorities looking for more efficient and effective ways to process data. Kuo underscores just how important reliability is to their technology—especially when it’s in a moving vehicle. They’re particularly interested in realizing the potential for millimeter-wave frequencies and waveguide technology to maximize performance.
Competing Innovations in the Market
Point2 Technology is focusing on its e-Tube solution. At the same time, AttoTude, a competing startup, is developing an almost identical solution aimed at increasing data center interconnectivity. AttoTude’s technology uses terahertz-frequency signals to transmit data quickly and accurately. As part of their system, they maintain a digital component that plugs directly into GPUs. It features a terahertz-frequency generator and a mixer specifically built for encoding information onto terahertz signals.
AttoTude demonstrated their capabilities during the Optical Fiber Communications Conference last April, successfully achieving a 4-meter transmission at 970 GHz. This new innovation illuminates the cutthroat landscape that both startups operate in. For each company, the focus is on overcoming the shortcomings of legacy copper wires.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” – Dave Welch
Point2 Technology and AttoTude are stretching their offerings’ technological limits. Their mission? To address the need for increasing bandwidth while improving energy conservation efforts. The race to achieve supremacy in this new sector is still very much underway.
Addressing Industry Challenges
The obstacles of increasing data requirements make new breakthroughs in interconnectivity at the data center level a necessity. Kuo points out that Point2 Technology’s innovations directly address the current shortcomings. They need to anticipate future needs as the data processing landscape continues to change.
The increasing reliance on cloud services and high-performance computing applications means that data centers face unprecedented pressure to deliver rapid and reliable connectivity. With Nvidia’s expansion plans revealing a long-term pivot to increased GPU densities, enterprises need to rethink their infrastructure to suit their evolving needs.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
Industry expert Don Barnetson recently reminded us operators are starting on terrain that’s easy, warm and safe in proven, passive copper solutions. He points out that at some point, it really does need to be upgraded. Point2 Technology’s e-Tube cables provide strong performance and a clearly-focused cost-effective value, making them an attractive alternative.
