Point2 Technology is a local startup launched nine years ago by former Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung execs. They’re shaking things up in the data center industry with their unexpected, proprietary approach to data transmission. Their mission is to finally introduce the strengths of radio technology into the world of data centers, creating incredible performance and efficiency breakthroughs while slashing costs. With a significant $55 million in venture funding, primarily from renowned computer cables manufacturer Molex, Point2 Technology is set to transform how data is transmitted.
The company’s e-Tube cables are packed with real innovation, featuring eight e-Tube fibers. Each fiber carries more than 200 gigabits of information per second. This phenomenal pace creates a fun new competitor to regular optical fibers and copper wires. Point2 Technology has achieved notable breakthroughs with their second-generation cables. Their newest products are at the cutting edge, now with fibers with diameters down to 200 micrometers.
Breakthrough Technology
Point2 Technology’s system uses only one-third the power required by optical systems. It costs one-third less, so it’s an economically smart investment and a greener alternative. Plus, it offers performance that includes a latency as low as one-thousandth of what you’d find with traditional transmission solutions. It has announced plans to begin producing the chips that will power a revolutionary new cable capable of 1.6 terabits per second, made up of eight thin polymer waveguides.
Each waveguide can carry 448 gigabits per second using two frequencies of 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz, significantly surpassing traditional copper cables. The e-Tube cable’s compact design has half the area of a 32-gauge copper cable and achieves an impressive reach of up to 20 meters without significant signal loss.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
Dave Welch addresses one of the most important and dangerous challenges we face in the world of fiber optics. Finally, he passionately highlights how Point2 Technology’s approach could actually solve these issues properly.
Enhancing Data Center Efficiency
One major benefit from Point2 Technology’s e-Tube system is its flawless integration with currently available digital components. This involves indeed supporting powerful Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). There’s a digital part of the system that has a direct connection to the GPU. It includes a terahertz-frequency generator and a mixer that encodes data onto the terahertz signal.
Last April, the company demonstrated these remarkable capabilities at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference. They even recorded, at an impressive 970 GHz, a successful 4-meter transmission. This demonstration confirmed the practicality and reliability of their technology in real-world applications, further establishing Point2 Technology as a leader in innovative data transmission solutions.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” – Dave Welch
Welch’s observations underscore the limits of electronics versus optical systems in terms of reliability. This further strengthens Point2 Technology’s commitment to providing a better, more flexible, more cost-effective alternative.
Future Developments and Goals
Looking to the future, Point2 Technology’s next steps are to build pluggable connections as well as radio transceivers that can be co-packaged with processors. Their vision dovetails perfectly with our dream of bringing radio technology to the data center. This method keeps everything working as smoothly as possible and increases the impact.
e-Tube technology extends beyond copper’s capabilities. It further opens up more exciting possibilities for data transmission. Point2 Technology is redefining what’s possible in efficiency and performance for data centers. Even at 10 meter to 20 meter distances there is no major loss.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
We hope Welch’s thought-provoking question inspires others’ curiosity about these and other alternative transmission methods. It reflects the creativity and inventiveness that drive Point2 Technology under the hood.