Point2 Technology, a burgeoning startup founded by veterans from the tech giants Marvell, Nvidia, and Samsung, has successfully raised $55 million in venture funding. The firm is enhancing data center interconnection using its state-of-the-art e-Tube technological know-how. This truly novel approach has significant advantages over existing optical systems. Though only nine years old, Point 2 Technology has quickly vaulted to industry-wide acclaim for its innovative data transmission solutions.
The company’s flagship product, the e-Tube cable, is designed to greatly improve data center efficiency. Each cable tube of e-Tube carries eight e-Tube fibers. Each fiber is capable of carrying more than 200 gigabits of information a second. This super high-speed capability makes Point2 Technology a strong player in the highly competitive landscape of data center competitive advantages.
Innovations in Cable Design
For us, in addition to its performance, Point2 Technology e-Tube cable really caught our eye with how discreet it was. The cable occupies only half the volume as a conventional 32-gauge copper cable. It is able to stretch its reach up to 20 times further! This incredible size-to-efficiency ratio means data centers can save on physical space while maintaining high performance.
The e-Tube technology utilizes a proprietary single silicon chip that processes incoming digital data and produces modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. Those frequencies are picked up by the antenna integrated into the system and then radiated into a waveguide, creating a seamless data transmission. This system’s real brilliance is in its reduced power requirements, consuming only a third of the power of optical technology. It saves on operating costs, a compelling factor for data center managers.
“The entire reason people have gone to [liquid cooling] is to keep [scaling up] in passive copper,” – Don Barnetson
This affirmative statement serves to underscore the difficulties that the incumbent technologies face. Most importantly, it shines a light on exactly how Point2’s solutions can really help overcome these challenges.
Collaborative Efforts and Technological Advancements
Point2 Technology’s ongoing quest for excellence has included collaboration with prestigious institutions such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Together, they have created a second-generation cable using 28-nanometer CMOS technology. This contribution has made truly phenomenal progress possible, including system losses down to 0.3 decibels per meter.
Point2 Technology has partnered with semiconductor company Credo to develop an Advanced Electronics Component (AEC). Here’s a peek at this powerful device, which is capable of 800 Gb/s speeds over distances of 7 meters! Such collaborations showcase the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of existing technologies and providing scalable solutions for modern data centers.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
This latest round of questioning demonstrates the industry’s continued search for the next shiny new object. It’s worth noting the technological changes Point2 is planning to take advantage of.
Market Reception and Future Prospects
Point2 Technology’s innovations have made quite a splash in the market. In fact, major investors like Molex—a top manufacturer of computer cables and connections—have seen the potential for Point2’s e-Tube technology. The startup’s vision of bringing radio frequency solutions into data centers couldn’t come at a better time with rising efficiency, reliability and security demands.
“Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics,” stated Dave Welch, emphasizing the mixed feelings within the industry about traditional fiber optics. The inherent reliability of electronic systems compared to optics presents an opportunity for companies like Point2 Technology to fill a critical gap.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics,” – Dave Welch
The need for high speed, time-saving data transmission is increasingly high. To that end, Point2 Technology is poised to lead the charge with its award-winning solutions and robust partner network. Our latest funding round is closed out. Today, the company is poised for explosive growth as it leads a data center technologies revolution in the highly competitive marketplace.