Cable Direct represents an extraordinary new cable addressing the data center efficiency challenge, Point2 Technology has revealed. The company’s new product, the e-Tube cable, consists of eight slender polymer waveguides, each capable of transmitting 448 gigabits per second across two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 gigahertz. This innovative development could change the way data is transmitted within data centers. It addresses the growing demand for greater bandwidth and faster data acquisition.
The e-Tube cable has a very small diameter, occupying only half the space of a standard 32-gauge copper cable. Most notably, it provides unmatched reach, hitting up to 20x further. This unique ability provides data centers with the means to visualize their layouts and address overcrowding. Shimano’s e-Tube system is a marvel of efficiency. It consumes a third of the energy required by optical fibres, costs a third of the price, while having up to one-thousandth lower latency than what’s currently achievable with conventional optics.
Advancements in Cable Technology
Point2 Technology is in line to begin manufacturing chips for a game-changing 1.6-terabit-per-second cable later this year. This announcement would be a big step towards the future of high-speed data transmission. As the first integrated components of the Synthesia system, these e-Tube fibers propel Synthesia’s innovation in a new direction. Each fiber transports more than 200 billion bits of information every second! This new-found capacity is more important than ever, as businesses are putting more and more critical business operations in data centers.
This new experience is part of a larger trend to use radio frequencies in new ways to transmit data. Point2 Technology is a leader among the AttoTude Startup Zone startups. Both are actively investigating new developments to adapt radio technology to the data center environment.
Investment and Company Background
Point2 Technology has secured $55 million in venture funding, with notable support from Molex, a leader in computer cables and connections. Point2 was established by Marvell/Nvidia/Samsung industry veterans nine years ago. The company’s mission—to set a new standard in data transmission—has propelled them to success. The company’s vision, know-how, and out-of-the-box thinking are all on display through their high-profile, ambitious installations and partnerships.
Point2 Technology recently came together with software engineers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Combined, they used 28-nanometer CMOS technology to set a new world record. This collaborative partnership is a true testament to the potential of cutting-edge engineering practices. With your help, together we can expand the horizons of what cable technology is capable of.
That future looks bright, but the competition is fierce with Barnetson saying there’s a lot of work being done in this area. In passive mode you start with passive copper. Then you do everything you can to keep it in passive mode for as long as you can,” he said at the time. This mindset is emblematic of the industry’s broader fear of taking risks by moving away from proven materials and practices to newer, more innovative solutions.
Future Trends in Data Transmission
With demand for data processing still skyrocketing, tech giants like Nvidia are shifting focus too. The tech behemoth intends to increase the number of maximum GPUs per machine from 72 in 2023 to 576 in 2027. This revision marks an incredible step toward expanding processing capacities. This ongoing dynamic more than ever calls for smarter cable to maximize bandwidth potential in a more efficient manner.
Dave Welch, an industry expert, commented on the challenges surrounding fiber optics: “Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” For what it’s worth, his observation speaks to ratcheting frustration with current optical technologies’ complexities and limitations. Welch noted that electronics are from the start a lot more reliable than optics. With those hard-fought benefits in mind, let’s dig into what makes Point2 Technology’s e-Tube system so beneficial.
The electronic-Tube includes wireless functionality, which can transmit data wirelessly over distances up to 20 meters. This accomplishment is an important step toward shattering the barriers imposed by today’s technologies. This ability to create buoyancy capacity improves performance and gives data centers more flexibility in their infrastructure design and specifications.