Point2, a deployment-focused, technology-first company, is committed to transforming how data is transmitted to revolutionize communities. Their new e-Tube cable system pushes everything to the next level. This integrates eight polymer waveguides, allows the company to announce plans to start producing chips for a record instantaneous capability of 1.6 terabits per second cable. Each waveguide is engineered to transmit an impressive 448 gigabits per second by utilizing two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz. This breakthrough would greatly improve data center efficiency and performance.
Point2 was founded nine years ago by high tech industry veterans from companies such as Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung. Since then, it has become a bit of a lightning rod in the tech community. Most recently, the company raised $55 million in venture capital funding. Among the most prominent support was Molex, a giant multinational manufacturer of computer cable and connections. This funding will help Point2 expedite the development and deployment of its game-changing technology.
The Mechanics Behind e-Tube Technology
Point2’s e-Tube cable has eight e-Tube fibers. Each one of those fiber strands has the capacity to carry more than 200 gigabits of data every second! The program was to foster an efficient design with a small footprint. Specific to the e-Tube cable, it occupies only half the diameter of a conventional 32-gauge copper wire. And it has a remarkable reach, going as much as 20 times farther than copper substitutes. That’s what makes it such an attractive solution for today’s data center.
The entire e-Tube system is based on a single silicon chip that takes incoming digital data and translates it into modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. An antenna couples these frequencies into the waveguide, enabling incredibly high speed data transfers. Point2 is already projecting that their integrated waveguides could one day be able to transmit signals over 20 meters. This would prove doable with little to no degradation in quality.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” – Dave Welch
Performance and Reliability
Point2’s new e-Tube cable system has outperformed several industry standards. At the Optical Fiber Connections Conference last April, Point2 had great success with a four-meter transmission at 970 GHz. This accomplishment is a testament to the promise of their technology when applied to the real world.
The second-generation e-Tube cable is especially remarkable, thanks to its fibers that are just 200 µm thick. The space-saving form factor improves transmission efficiency. I take heart in the fact that our anticipated losses will be minimized down to a mere 0.3 decibels per meter. These kinds of performance metrics are absolutely essential for agencies whose work and missions depend on fast, dependable data transmission.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
Point2’s commitment to reducing latency makes it an even more attractive solution. It makes the e-Tube cable latency one-thousandth that of commercial optical interconnects. This low-latency performance is critical for use cases that need real-time data processing and ultra-reliable, low-latency communication.
Industry Insights and Future Directions
According to industry experts, the impact of Point2’s technology could be nothing short of critical. Don Barnetson remarked on the current industry trend, stating, “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.” This statement speaks to the awareness of the ineffectiveness in existing copper approaches. It further underscores the on-demand climate crisis, and above all, the need for innovative alternatives like Point2’s upcoming e-Tube.
As enterprises and municipalities alike double down on their need for speedy, trustworthy data-driven solutions, Point2’s services couldn’t arrive at a more opportune moment. The company is hell-bent on upending the extant competitive landscape. They’re focused on providing the most advanced possible option that meets the needs of today’s data centers.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
With one eye on the rearview mirror, we are thankful and excited to have Point2’s team focused on improving and deepening their technology’s capabilities. Waveguide systems continue to progress quickly. Such advancements point to a future data transmission landscape where reliability and efficiency are not mutually exclusive qualities.