Founded by veterans of Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung, the Point2 tech startup is poised to disrupt the data center. It’s their groundbreaking radio technology that will redefine the game changer. Point2’s mission is to extend radio capabilities deep into existing and new data center infrastructure. By combining two technologies that already exist, they hope to bring unique benefits to the table. The firm recently raised $55 million in venture capital themselves! This fourth round features heavy backing from Molex, the third largest global manufacturer of computer cables and connections.
The future of data transmission in data centers is bright—literally! Point2 has specifically been preparing to manufacture the chips for one of the world’s most advanced 1.6-terabit-per-second cables. This innovative cable will utilize eight slender polymer waveguides, allowing it to deliver high-speed data transmission efficiently. Point2’s e-Tube cables feature eight e-Tube fibers. Each fiber has the capacity of more than 200 gigabits of data per second! This development speeds up data transfer by a factor of 10, as well as lowering the physical footprint needed for devices inside data centers.
Advancements in Cable Technology
Point2’s e-Tube cable boasts a compact design, occupying only half the area of a traditional 32-gauge copper cable while achieving up to 20 times the reach. The e-Tube technology can expand up to 20 meters. This power of adaptability combined with its balance of performance, flexibility and efficiency makes it ideally suited for the modern data center workloads. Each end of the e-Tube cable contains a single silicon chip. In simple terms, this chip transforms incoming digital information into modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. This conversion is aided by a compact antenna that radiates the data into the waveguide, forming an efficient data transmission system.
The implications of this new technology are much more than just how fast it is. Point2’s approach leverages the inherent reliability of electronics over optics, as noted by AttoTude’s CEO Dave Welch, who stated, “Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” This reliability is important for data centers that depend on a constant and unbroken stream of data.
Point2’s engineers joined forces with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology for a really cool, joint project. Their project went on to be featured in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits. Together with this partnership, the company’s commitment to being at the forefront of technological innovation in data transmission shines through.
Market Potential and Hyperscaler Appeal
Molex’s support will be a major selling point for Point2. This support will allow Point2 to court hyperscale data centre operators. And due to the scale of these facilities, only the most advanced technology can bring increased efficiency of use and reliability. Welch emphasized the growing preference among customers for fiber technology while expressing their aversion to photonics, remarking, “Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.”
Point2’s forward-looking solutions are set to be the first ever individual Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) networked directly to external switches. These switches are an absolutely foundational building block for scale-out networking architecture. This change to radio-based technology creates an opportunity for Point2 to overcome existing shortfalls in traditional optical connections.
Don Barnetson, another expert in the field, commented on the industry’s historical reliance on passive copper connections: “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.” Point2’s technology provides a better way forward — one that could relieve housing and environmental pressures on data centers as they continue to grow and change.
Future Directions and Strategic Goals
Looking a few steps ahead, Point2 hopes to continue finding innovative ways to deploy its technology outside of these original use cases. The company’s long-term vision is indeed creating Pluggable connections and Co-Optimizing Radio transceivers that are co-packaged with processors. Welch referred to this type of integration as “the real prize.” Second, he pointed to a strategic direction with the capacity to fundamentally revolutionize data center operations over the coming years.
As Point2 continues to innovate, its focus remains on providing practical solutions that enhance data center efficiency while minimizing reliance on traditional optical technologies. The initial reception to their e-Tube technology has already created a buzz within the cutting-edge industry, making it appear that fortune indeed favors the bold for Point2.
