Point2 Technology is a ground-breaking company specializing in data connectivity technologies. They are poised to change the efficiency equation of data centers with their proprietary radio technology. The company’s innovative approach lies in their deployment of e-Tube cables. Each cable is made of eight e-Tube fibers, and each one can carry more than 200 gigabits of data per second! This initiative is a huge step in the opposite direction. Its goal is to enhance the efficiency and dependability of data delivery in complex computing landscapes.
Point2 was established nine years ago by veterans of powerhouses such as Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung. The company has recently been making headlines with its ambitious plan to build a radio technology-based data center. We’re glad to hear the firm is making those exciting strides. They hope to produce chips for one of the new 1.6-terabit-per-second cables, which employ eight thin polymer waveguides. Each of these waveguides can carry 448 gigabits per second by employing two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz. This innovation is set to meet the increasingly high demand for high-speed and energy-efficient data transfer as the industry continues to push data centers’ capabilities.
A Breakthrough in Cable Technology
Point2’s e-Tube cables give data center operators every advantage in efficiency. These new cables feature a cross-sectional area that is just 50 percent of that found in conventional 32-gauge copper cables. They offer an incredible range up to 20 meters, while still having low attenuation signal loss.
Here’s David Kuo from Point2 on the death knells of old, brittle copper cables. He notes that these cables have reached a point that he terms “the copper cliff.” The performance degradation copper will face over increased distance has made the case for exploring alternatives imperative for the industry. Kuo’s assertion emphasizes the need for innovations like Point2’s e-Tube cables to meet growing demands.
AttoTude is currently collaborating with Point2 to propose a hybrid solution. This unique approach leverages the strengths of both technologies, closing the copper vs. photonics gap without being beholden to either. They want to create a system that captures the best of both worlds. This will dramatically increase data transmission capacity to, from and between future data centers.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
All the while, computing systems are growing in both complexity and scale. Nvidia has already forecast that maximum GPU counts will increase from 72 to 576 per system by 2027, driving a demand for trustworthy, efficient data transfer solutions even further. Point2’s e-Tube cables are uniquely positioned to address these needs with precision and care.
Don Barnetson from Credo highlights that his company has developed an Active Electrical Cable (AEC) capable of delivering 800 Gb/s over distances of up to seven meters. For data centers that need connectivity between all-to-all racks and thousands of GPUs, these developments are absolutely necessary. Today, the need to scale up without corresponding loss of performance is more critical than ever.
Additionally, compared to copper, Point2’s technology has a larger reach of up to 10-20 meters with no performance degradation. This ability to run workloads more efficiently, with less hardware, makes it a compelling proposition for data centers seeking to do more with their infrastructure while increasing throughput.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” – Dave Welch
Financial Backing and Future Prospects
Point2– Technology has raised a total of $55 million in venture funding so far to pursue these ambitious projects. This funding is especially significant given the large private sector matching contributions including from Molex, one of the world’s largest computer cable and connection manufacturers. This new financial backing is crucial to Point2. It will further support the company’s growth by helping them scale operations and bring their innovative technology to market.
The company has partnered with AttoTude to explore novel advances. Specifically, they’re concentrating on technologies that leverage these millimeter-wave Active Radio Configurations (ARCs) as well as terahertz frequencies. These initiatives are a testament to Point2’s passion for pushing data transmission technology boundaries.
Dave Welch, another industry expert, underscores the potential impact of Point2’s innovations: “It happens to be a beautiful distance for scale-up in data centers.” This feeling captures the hopefulness about new breakthroughs in cable technology as data centers gear up for the coming demands of the future.