Centralized infrastructure needs to adopt a Decentralization Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN)

Source: Cointelegraph Original text: "Centralized infrastructure needs to adopt a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN)"

Author of the viewpoint: Carlos Lei, Co-founder and CEO of Uplink

Have you seen Spain, Portugal, and France plunged into darkness recently? That's right, millions are without power. This is a connectivity collapse that exposes how fragile communication lifelines can become when power is interrupted.

Don't think this is just a European issue. The same script is playing out around the world. South Africa's endless power crisis. Pakistan's massive blackout in 2023. And the crazy cold snap in Texas in 2021. At that time, residents of Houston melted the snow on their roofs into barrels of water just to flush their toilets for a whole week. Most people had no heating in sub-zero temperatures, with power and communications completely cut off. This lesson on the fragility of infrastructure is unforgettable.

The harsh reality is? Most of these core infrastructures are outdated and were never designed for today's always-on, data-hungry era. They are now overwhelmed by the pressures of renewable energy integration and the explosion of digital demand—by 2030, global energy consumption in the tech sector is expected to double. This is why DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) is transitioning from fringe experiments to a key necessity in the blockchain space.

Achieving decentralization with DePIN

The industry must respond more intelligently. We need resilience, and that starts with the community, not just top-down solutions.

This is exactly where DePIN serves as a true solution, especially in maintaining connectivity. DePIN technology utilizes tools like blockchain to coordinate community-built physical infrastructure — the internet network is a typical example. Unlike a model controlled by a single giant, imagine a network powered by thousands of ordinary people and businesses sharing resources (WiFi routers, storage space, or small new devices).

Don't think that DePIN is only applicable to networks. It has great potential in the energy sector. For example, community-shared rooftop solar or managing local battery storage through microgrids. This is true energy autonomy—closer to home, reducing reliance on distant large power plants and fragile transmission lines.

What are the advantages of decentralization? It can significantly reduce the risk of a complete collapse caused by a single point of failure. When a certain part of the DePIN network encounters problems, other devices can usually find alternative paths to maintain local operations. This is people weaving their own safety nets, making resource access fairer, and preserving basic services when the giants fail.

DePIN in the real world

This is not a castle in the air. Tibetan exiles in Dharamsala, India have built a wireless mesh network using scrap materials to cope with unstable electricity. The local mesh network in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn became a lifeline during the network outage following Hurricane Sandy. These are not just anecdotes; they demonstrate the crisis response capabilities of the technology.

Most of the time, the best solution is a hybrid model. Decentralized technology does not have to replace existing systems but can work alongside them to enhance resilience. OpenRoaming is a prime example—it connects over 3 million routers, enabling seamless global hotspot switching through automatic WiFi connections. This is the collaboration the industry needs and a standard supported by many.

Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) solutions based on the DePIN principles can further optimize existing hotspot networks while integrating more community-operated access points, effectively expanding coverage. This is the value of the decentralized layer - to enhance and extend existing standards.

Imagine: When a storm destroys the base station, a local DePIN network composed of backup power routers may become the only way for people to send messages, obtain critical information, or organize rescue efforts. This option will change everything during a complete network outage.

The moment of action

These power outage events should not be forgotten news a week later. They must serve as a real wake-up call. For all parties involved in maintaining critical services—whether government, business leaders, or urban planners—it is time to speak plainly: betting on purely centralized systems equals creating disaster. Resources and wisdom must be directed towards decentralized solutions like DePIN. This is not a futuristic ornament, but a foundational stone for building the resilience that people need.

How to act? The government should open policy space for new models. Telecom operators and businesses need innovative thinking to incorporate decentralized nodes such as community routers and mesh backups into existing network planning. Building shared DePIN infrastructure in vulnerable areas through public-private partnerships aligns with the interests of all parties.

Our goal is to build a multi-layer backup system that combines the coverage of traditional networks with the resilience of decentralized grassroots. This is crucial for fields such as transportation, healthcare, and emergency services.

Do not regard connectivity as a secondary issue anymore. It is as critical as electricity—pertaining to safety in disasters, community survival, and basic functionality. To avoid large-scale communication failures, cooperation between traditional forces and decentralized new armies is necessary. It is time to strengthen the digital lifeline before the next crisis.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or investment advice. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent or reflect the position of Cointelegraph.