Point2 Technology, a fabless company making AI data centre interconnects, said on April 23 it secured strategic investment from Nvidia, UMC and Maverick Silicon. The company said it is a sign that competition in the AI semiconductor industry is shifting from computing performance to interconnect technology.

Point2 Technology develops high-speed interconnect technology for AI and machine-learning data centres. Its core technology, e-Tube, transmits RF signals through a plastic medium. It aims to address the bandwidth limits of existing copper cables and the high cost, power consumption and structural complexity of optical interconnects at the same time.

As competition over hyperscale AI models intensifies, ultra-large cluster structures that connect thousands to tens of thousands of GPUs like a single system are becoming a standard. In the process, data transfer speed and power efficiency have emerged as key variables that determine overall system performance. Interconnect technology affects the architecture of entire data centres beyond specific chips.

Point2 Technology plans to use the investment to strengthen cooperation with key customers and partners, focusing on the North American market. It aims to expand its presence in the next-generation AI data centre interconnect market.

Chief Executive Jin-ho Park (박진호) of Point2 Technology said, "This investment is meaningful not only as fundraising, but also because our interconnect technology has been recognised as a practical alternative in the global AI industry." He added, "The competitiveness of AI infrastructure depends not on more computing, but on how fast and efficiently data can be moved."

Park said, "As a Korean-founded semiconductor company, securing Nvidia's investment has symbolic meaning not only for the company but also for the domestic semiconductor industry." He added, "Through cooperation with global customers and partners, we will create results that are verified in real data centre environments."