Point2, a recently founded technology company by ex-Marvell, ex-Nvidia and ex-Samsung guys, are upending the data transmission space. Their remarkable e-Tube cable is at the forefront of this thrilling technology. Compared to conventional cable technologies, this new fiber and copper technology has the potential to transport data as fast as more than 200 gigabits per second. The launch of Point2’s e-Tube cable marks an essential development for data centers seeking to enhance their efficiency and performance.
The e-Tube cable itself consists of eight individual fibers, with each fiber carrying more than 200 gigabits of data per second. Aside from streamlined data flow, this design offers the space-saving benefits of a smaller, lighter-weight solution than copper cables. Point2 has similarly claimed it would start chip manufacturing for a next-generation 1.6-terabit-per-second cable by the end of this year. This new cable will consist of eight polymer waveguides, each capable of carrying 448 gigabits per second using two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz.
Point2’s solution to increasing bandwidth and decreasing latency demands in crowded data centers. Their technology uses just one third the energy of optical systems and is significantly cheaper. It lowers latency by up to one-thousandth of what’s possible with traditional approaches.
Innovative Cable Technology
The e-Tube cable is a major evolution in cable design. The second-generation cables have fibers as small as 200 µm. They have undeniable efficiency on their side, reaching loss rates down to 0.3 decibels per meter. This distinct innovation allows Point2’s cables to use half the footprint of a standard 32-gauge copper cable. Not to mention, they’re up to 20 times more distant!
Point2’s innovative technology takes advantage of unique millimeter-wave frequencies and antennae that radiate into waveguides, marking a significant shift from traditional optical-based technologies. This innovative and unconventional shift enables much more flexibility, reliability, and efficiency when transmitting critical data.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” – Dave Welch
The e-Tube is extremely processor efficient and can handle very high frequencies easily! That provides Point2 with a distinct edge in the fast moving transportation data solutions marketplace. The company is on a mission to build a more efficient wireless system that offers high-speed data transmission while consuming the least amount of power.
Industry Support and Future Plans
Point2 has secured $55 million in venture funding, with significant backing from Molex, a key player in the cable-and-connector ecosystem. This support will go a long way toward enabling Point2 to continue to innovate and bring new, cutting-edge products to market.
Molex’s investment highlights Point2’s focus on building innovative, high performance solutions for the data center market. Point2 is getting ready to come out with their new products. They hope their first application will be to wire up individual GPU’s to network switches in large scale-out networks.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch
This partnership with Molex will be directed at ensuring Point2 technology is flawlessly integrated into the current infrastructure. Together, this partnership provides customers a compelling optical alternative to conventional solutions.
The Future of Data Centers
Big data and cloud computing are becoming increasingly powerful. With every passing day, data centers are under the gun to improve performance all while decreasing their operating expenses. Point2’s groundbreaking approach is the solution to these challenges, delivering a faster, more efficient, and more reliable solution.
Point2 is busy perfecting its technology for the next phase. The company imagines a future where its radio technology is the default in every data center.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch
This simple question sums up Point2’s mission to investigate new wavelengths outside of the optical wavelengths that have dominated our industry for decades. Point2 is pioneering third-generation millimeter-wave technology to radically reshape wireless data transmission. We believe this innovation will go a long way to increasing overall efficiency across the data center.