In addition to their advanced hardware, Point2 is an interesting new company, birthing veterans from Marvell, Nvidia, and Samsung. They’re looking to change that with their amazing cable-based technology. The firm is preparing to produce chips for an experimental cable called the e-Tube. This pioneering cable has an unprecedented capacity of 1.6 terabits per second and has eight polymer waveguides. Each waveguide has the impressive capability of transporting 448 gigabits per second using two distinct frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz.
This single silicon chip design is credited with their proprietary e-Tube technology, which converts incoming digital data into modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. An antenna then radiates this signal into the waveguide, allowing for the high-speed data transfer that today’s data centers demand. Point2’s first application of this technology will be for pluggable connections. Further down the road, they want to include radio transceivers right next to the processors.
Significant Funding and Industry Impact
Point2 has raised a strong $55 million in VC funding thus far. Among the many significant contributions was Molex, one of the most important players in the automotive cable-and-connector nest. This funding will support Point2’s R&D, helping to build out our offerings. The company’s goal is to continue to innovate beyond data transmission technologies.
The company’s unique technology meets the high demand for fast, efficient, low-latency data movement inside today’s massive data centers. Point2 created the e-Tube cable, which reduces space compared to traditional 32-gauge copper cables by 50%. Interestingly enough, it provides as much as 20 times the reach! According to Dave Welch, one of the company’s founders, “Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics.” For one, numerous end users have difficulty working around optical systems. These technologies require extensive integration and ongoing maintenance, posing a formidable barrier.
Moreover, Welch emphasizes the reliability of electronics over optics by stating, “Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” This natural reliability plus Point2’s cutting-edge technology makes the company well-equipped to revolutionize the data center industry’s approach to operations.
Technical Advancements and Future Potential
The e-Tube’s design features fibers that measure approximately 200 µm across, showcasing Point2’s commitment to minimizing space usage while maximizing performance. The second-generation cable now under development has already demonstrated a system with losses of only 0.3 decibels per meter. This improvement substantially increases its utility for any facility looking to maximize efficiency and communicate across long distances.
Welch describes the amazing outcomes achieved by the technology. Last April, it won the prize for most successful 4-meter long transmission at record-setting 970 GHz at Optical Fiber Communications Conference. He envisions that the waveguide will one day transport data at distances up to 20 meters. This dynamic development will further broaden its application within data centers and other mission critical facilities.
Point2’s pioneering methodology provides a record-breaking bandwidth of over 224 Gb/s for transmission. This accomplishment establishes a new benchmark for ultra-high speed data transmission. Within this environment data centers continue to proliferate and grow chasing improved efficiency solutions. Innovations such as Point2’s e-Tube cable are vital for fulfilling these developments and needs.
Vision for the Future
Looking forward, Point2 is hoping to continue to push boundaries within the exciting field of data transmission. The latter is the long-term goal, to say carbon-nanotube radio transceivers on a carbon-nanotube processor. This creative application might allow much denser and more energy efficient data center cooling systems. Don Barnetson emphasizes the importance of starting with passive copper where possible, stating, “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.” This approach is consistent with a larger industry trend of implementing and innovating upon existing open technologies.
Point2’s e-Tube technology has the potential to turn that paradigm on its head. It has a ripple effect on data centers and other industries that rely on fast and subseconds latency connectivity. As organizations seek to improve their infrastructure and reduce costs associated with outdated technologies, Point2’s solutions may offer the innovation needed to meet these challenges head-on.