Further, Point2 Technology has had some remarkable achievements in data transmission technology. They worked alongside engineers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology to make such an advancement a reality. Advances like their recent development, as featured in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, are helping drive down data center efficiency’s energy hunger. It directly addresses the challenges of data congestion inside computer racks. They brought the innovative e-Tube cables to market, and this was a game-changer for the industry. These cables utilize proven technology to address modern needs.
Point2 has taken advantage of 28-nanometer CMOS technology with the goal of addressing the ever-increasing data burden with today’s modern data centers. This technology hasn’t been considered state-of-the-art since 2010. While this approach may seem like an odd first step, the outcomes are a testament to an innovative approach that applies readily available technology to address pressing challenges in data management.
Addressing Data Congestion
Data congestion within computer racks has recently surfaced as an important issue for data centers. Point2’s e-Tube cable technology has been purpose-built to address this challenge by massively amplifying data transfer capacities. Running through each cable are eight e-Tube fibers. Every single fiber has the capacity to carry more than 200 gigabits of data per second! This unique multi-fiber design increases capacity to an astounding 1.6 terabits per second. It greatly surpasses the current legacy hardware solutions, providing an order of magnitude higher throughput.
The e-Tube cable incorporates eight slender polymer waveguides, each capable of transmitting 448 gigabits per second by using two frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 gigahertz. This leading-edge strategy increases throughput and reduces latency. This distinct technology advantage places Point2’s technology head-and-shoulders above in highly competitive markets.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – David Welch
David Welch is quick to point out the tangible benefits that their groundbreaking new technology will bring. He describes how electronics simply work better and more reliably than optical systems. That telecommunications advantage may lead to better performance in the data centers. With an ever-increasing need for high-quality data transmission, Point2’s solutions are primed to provide consistent and effective solutions.
Technical Innovations
Point2’s e-Tube cable uses millimeter-wave frequencies and features an antenna that radiates into a waveguide. This simple design decision makes it super easy to turn the incoming digital data into modulated millimeter-wave frequencies. It does so simultaneously at each end of the optical fiber cable. It’s a single silicon chip at each end that does this vital work, saving power and fundamentally changing the way data moves through networks.
The second-generation e-Tube cable also maintains high performance standards with losses as low as 0.3 decibels per meter. This is a significant improvement over standard copper cables, which cannot keep their efficiency while transmitting 224 gigabits per second. With loss rates this low, Point2’s technology has the potential to transform how data is sent over vast networks.
“Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” – David Welch
The small size of Point2’s cables only adds to their attractiveness. At only 8.1 millimeters wide, they take up less than half the space of similar AEC cables while providing even better performance. Cutting down on physical space makes for more attractive operations and management in a data center. It additionally facilitates more natural airflow, enhancing care team operational efficiency overall.
Future Prospects and Manufacturing Plans
Point2 Technology is hoping to start semiconductor production for the chips that power their groundbreaking e-Tube cables later this year. The firm has a focused mantra to save money and minimize electricity usage. Providing one-third the power consumption and price of optical alternatives, their plan is to democratize ultra-high-performance data transmission to a larger market.
Andrew Don Barnetson, former industry expert, and the importance of efficiency efficiencies in data transmission technologies. He states, “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.” This core principle reinforces Point2’s focus on building solutions that do more with what we have today while laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s innovations.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – David Welch
With Point2, the company is innovating again to revolutionize how the world transmits data. Their e-Tube cables are an industry first, addressing the issues that data centers have to deal with in the fast-paced world of today. Fostering speed, lowering latency, and cutting costs, Point2’s technology has the potential to revolutionize how data is transmitted.