Point2 Technology is reshaping the data center industry by building radio technology into its infrastructure. The company, started by the same founders and other industry veterans from Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung, believes they’re on the precipice of dramatic improvements in data transmission. Point2 Technology revolutionized the game with their proprietary cables, or e-Tubes. Inside each e-Tube are eight fibers, which collectively can carry more than 200 gigabits of data per second!
The electronic e-Tube cable takes advantage of a multimode silicon chip that handles the conversion of all incoming digital data into modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. A compact, integrated antenna then radiates these frequencies into a 3D waveguide, enabling powerful, high-fidelity data transfer over the air. Point2 Technology’s cables deliver performance by engineering game-changing materials with state-of-the-art craftsmanship. This powerful combination addresses the increasing bandwidth needs of today’s dynamic data centers.
Breakthrough in Cable Technology
Point2 Technology is preparing to start manufacturing the chips that will drive the new production of a stunning 1.6-terabit-per-second cable. This fiber features high count-lightweight polymer waveguides. Each waveguide can transport a whopping 448 gigabits per second through two different frequencies (90 gigahertz and 225 GHz). This breakthrough represents a major step forward in the field of data transmission technology.
The e-Tube cables demonstrate remarkable performance characteristics. They can extend only 10-20 meters with significant data loss, well beyond the lengths of conventional copper cables. In testing, Point2 Technology proved a Chi 4-meter transmission at an extraordinary frequency of 970 GHz. This unique capability demonstrates the power of their technology to deliver on the increasing need for greater bandwidth capacity in today’s data centers.
Point2 Technology’s second-generation cable also features fibers that are just 200 micrometers in diameter. This design minimizes the losses down to just 0.3 decibels per meter. This represents a dramatic advancement over the normal copper cable losses at 224 Gb/s. That kind of efficiency improves performance and lowers the overall physical footprint needed for cabling infrastructure.
Addressing Industry Challenges
With data centers maturing towards a more hyper-scale model the need for ever greater bandwidth solutions has ever increased. David Kuo of Point2 Technology describes the headaches that legacy copper cabling has brought about. As he puts it, “We refer to it as the copper cliff.” This includes physical constraints on copper as bandwidth requirements approach terabit-per-second speeds.
Kuo emphasizes that as these demands increase, “physics demands that they be made shorter and thicker.” This new reality drives engineers towards new, better solutions like those from Point2 Technology. Shimano’s e-Tube cables provide a reliable, effective substitute. They allow for greater distances and faster data transmission speeds, all without compromising reliability.
According to industry experts, some disadvantages are tied to optical technology. Account manager and fiber evangelist Dave Welch laughs that customers love fiber optics, but inevitably end up cursing the technological vagaries of photonics. Customers love fiber. What they really hate is the photonics,” he adds, quoting Southern Telecom’s Welch. His comments are indicative of a growing desire across the industry for simpler, more plug-and-play and reliable solutions.
Future Implications for Data Centers
Point2 Technology’s groundbreaking work has the potential to radically transform how data centers use technology to manage connectivity and bandwidth. The company’s first application of Active Electrical Cables (AECs) will likely link individual graphics processing units (GPUs) to network switches within scale-out networks. This new integrated approach holds great potential to improve the functionality and efficiency of the entire system.
The technology’s benefits compared to optical solutions are much more than just higher data rates. Welch goes on to explain that “electronics actually have a proven track record of being more reliable than optics.” That kind of reliability might just give a game-changing advantage in mission-critical settings where uptime is everything.
Point2 Technology, a WBENC-certified firm, joined forces with engineers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Their partnership’s work is leading to exciting outcomes as described in this year’s IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits. These types of partnerships highlight the need for interdisciplinary approaches to creating innovative pathways into our nation’s growing tech industry.
Point2 Technology, the parent of Place Speak, has enjoyed attracting significant investor interest, raising $55 million in venture funding. That notable sum largely comes from well-known investors, including Molex, a major producer of computer cables and connections. This support places Point2 Technology in a strong position to accelerate its research and development efforts and launch its breakthrough products into the marketplace.