铜缆和光纤外，第三种选择

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the limitations of copper and fiber interconnects in next-generation data centers and introduces a third solution, e-Tube, which aims to support the growing demands of AI workloads and data bandwidth requirements [1][10][16]. Group 1: Challenges in Data Center Expansion - Data center AI accelerator clusters face increasing complexity due to the emergence of new technologies, particularly generative AI and large language models (LLMs), which are pushing data bandwidth beyond traditional interconnects, rapidly doubling to 800G and soon reaching 1.6T [1]. - The need for improved performance, cost control, and energy efficiency presents significant challenges for network operators [4]. Group 2: Limitations of Current Technologies - Data centers currently rely on 400G and 800G network equipment, using copper cables for short distances and fiber optics for long distances, but both technologies are approaching their respective limits in terabit interconnect speeds [3][6]. - Copper cables, while cost-effective and reliable for short distances, suffer from channel loss due to skin effect, limiting their transmission range and scalability in high-density data centers [3][6]. Group 3: Transition to Optical Interconnects - Large-scale enterprises are shifting towards optical interconnects, such as Active Optical Cables (AOC), which can provide connections over several kilometers but come with increased complexity, power consumption, and costs, potentially up to five times that of copper cables [8]. - Optical technologies are less reliable due to performance variations with temperature changes and the eventual failure of optical components, which can also introduce significant latency [8]. Group 4: Introduction of e-Tube Technology - The e-Tube platform offers a scalable multi-terabit interconnect solution using plastic medium waveguides to transmit radio frequency data, overcoming the limitations of copper and fiber optics [10][12]. - e-Tube cables, made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), can efficiently transmit data without the high-frequency losses associated with copper, supporting data speeds from 56G to 224G and beyond [12]. Group 5: Advantages of e-Tube - e-Tube technology results in a tenfold increase in cable coverage, fivefold reduction in weight, twofold decrease in thickness, threefold reduction in power consumption, and a thousandfold decrease in latency, all while reducing costs by three times [14]. - This technology is positioned as an ideal alternative to copper cables as data centers transition to 1.6T and 3.2T speeds, providing unique power efficiency and compatibility with existing network infrastructure [14][16].