Point2 Technology wants to change the way data centers are built and operated with its advanced radio frequency technology. This revolutionary technology works in the terahertz range, expanding the horizons of what is achievable. With nearly a decade of development, the company aims to provide a faster, more efficient, and cost-effective alternative to traditional optical technology. Point2 Technology’s innovations are poised to do just that as the demand for bandwidth continues to quadruple every 5 years. They address urgent challenges, such as energy use and latency.
Nine years ago, Marvell/Nvidia/Samsung industry veterans co-founded Point2 Technology. Their mission is to make data transfer as seamless and fast as possible. The company’s latest updates have caused quite a stir. They’ve raised $55 million in venture capital, led by industry leader Molex, noted for their expertise in computer cables and connections.
Technology Overview
Point2 Technology’s approach uses terahertz-frequency signals, including the 300 to 3,000 GHz spectrum. The groundbreaking technology features a proprietary hardware and software system, featuring a digital twin that integrates with graphics processing units (GPUs). It includes a terahertz-frequency generator and an upconverter mixer that encodes data onto the terahertz signal.
The company’s flagship product, the e-Tube cable, is a giant step forward in efficiency and data transmission. Each e-Tube is constructed with eight slender polymer waveguides, and it can carry an impressive 448 gigabits per second using two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz. Equally impressive, the e-Tube cable will provide a staggering 1.6 terabits per second. This dramatic speed makes it the most competitive industry player in high-speed data transfer.
For David Kuo, vice president of product marketing and business development at Point2 Technology, the need for their innovations is absolutely mission critical. For one thing, he says bandwidth demands on old, traditional copper cables are approaching the terabit-per-second barrier.
“We call it the copper cliff,” – David Kuo
The meaning of this declaration is clear. The approaching constraints on current technologies and the need for radical solutions.
Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness
One of the most impressive features of Point2’s technology are the efficiencies that come with it. Point2’s solutions use one-third of the power and cost one-third the price of optical systems. This cost-effectiveness is what makes them so attractive to data centers interested in delivering the most optimized operations while still delivering strong performance.
Point2’s e-Tube cable provides latency rates that are orders of magnitude faster than optical technology. Indeed, it claims latencies down to one-thousandth of the best optical latency. This improvement is especially important for applications that need immediate data delivery, including real-time analytics and high-frequency trading.
The design of the e-Tube though, is especially cool. Its overall cross-sectional diameter is a 50% smaller than comparable direct-attach cables. This design creates a chance for quicker installations. Picture this— you’re a new member of your city’s planning commission. Its reach goes up to 20 meters, far exceeding the range of legacy copper cable.
This is indicative of a broader trend of adoption of more sophisticated technologies as operational needs continue to mature.
“You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.”
As Point2 Technology builds upon their creative technology development, the reception from the market looks bright. At the same time, the company has set itself up to benefit as customers increasingly opt for digital, omnichannel, and ecommerce transactions. And, of course, all of our clients are fiber optics fans. At the same time, they routinely become frustrated with photonics due to its reliability and complexity hurdles.
Market Reception and Future Directions
He further notes that electronics have shown greater reliability compared to optical systems.
This new way of looking at things opens up a promising landscape for Point2 Technology. They can capitalize on this gap in the market by providing innovative and effective solutions that disrupt the status quo.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.”
As always, Point2 Technology looks forward to refining our offerings further, stay tuned! Simultaneously, the firm has been focusing on growing its data center footprint in sectors other than tech. The transition from traditional copper and optical systems to terahertz technology may well redefine standards for performance in data transmission.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.”
This perspective indicates an opportunity for Point2 Technology to fill a gap in the market by providing reliable and efficient solutions that challenge conventional norms.
Looking ahead, Point2 Technology aims to further refine its offerings while expanding its presence in data centers across various sectors. The transition from traditional copper and optical systems to terahertz technology may well redefine standards for performance in data transmission.