Point2, a startup created by veterans from Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung, is poised to shake up the data center efficiency game. They will do this largely through their innovative radio cables. This new technology holds the promise to deliver a dramatic reduction in power consumption, costs, and latency compared to conventional optical systems. Point2 is on a mission to change the way data is transmitted over networks. What they really want to do is bring radio-based technology to data centers.
Point2’s system uses only one third of the power needed by optical systems and is one third the cost. Moreover, it has latency rates that are up to one-thousandth of optical solutions. This unique combination of benefits – broadband, incentives and good jobs – makes a powerful case for data centers. They can increase operational efficiency and reduce overhead expenses.
Innovative Cable Design
The cornerstone of Point2’s technology is its patented cable architecture. The e-Tube cable itself consists of 8 e-Tube fibers, each with the capability to transmit over 200 gigabits per second. This highly-optimized design supports very high data throughput in a small form factor.
To that end, Point2 is doubling down on its plans by gearing up to manufacture chips themselves. These chips will drive a new 1.6-tebit-per-second cable using eight of narrow, lightweight polymer waveguides. Each waveguide can carry 448 gigabits per second by utilizing two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz.
Point2’s e-Tube technology uses one silicon chip to translate incoming digital data into modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. An integrated antenna then radiates this modulated medium waveguide signal into the medium waveguide to transmit efficiently. This groundbreaking approach places Point2 at the leading edge of new cable technology.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
Competitive Advantages
Point2’s cables provide outstanding benefits compared to the optical and copper options. The technology provides for a remarkable range of 10 to 20 meters. It does this with minimal signal loss, going far beyond what’s possible with conventional copper connections. Each of these second-generation cables is a set of fibers less than 200 µm in diameter, making them even more efficient.
Point2’s proprietary system provides world-class losses of only 0.3 dB/m. Standard copper cables cannot hold performance at faster data rates. By overcoming the fundamental limitations of traditional technologies, Point2 is helping to ensure that our most critical data will be transmitted reliably.
Dave Welch expressed the sentiment of many customers in the industry:
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
Industry Impact and Future Prospects
Point2 Ventures has pulled together $55 million in venture capital funding. Interestingly, Molex, one of the world’s largest makers of computer cables and connections, was a major driver of this investment. This funding support will further enable the rapid development and deployment of Point2’s groundbreaking, game-changing technology.
Industry insiders agree that if proven Point2’s innovations will be game changing and usher in a revolution in data center operation. As Don Barnetson noted:
“The entire reason people have gone to [liquid cooling] is to keep [scaling up] in passive copper.” – Don Barnetson
Barnetson’s statement underscores the industry’s difficulty with scalability with current technology, making Point2’s products an attractive solution.
Closely associated with former NTIA chief David Kuo, who used the term “copper cliff” to outline the dangers faced by companies who are still relying on copper solutions. This statement highlights the need for data centers to implement more efficient technologies such as those from Point2.