Source: Cointelegraph
Original: (Centralized infrastructure needs to adopt Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN))
Viewpoint author: Carlos Lei, co-founder and CEO of Uplink
Have you seen Spain, Portugal, and France plunged into darkness recently? That's right, millions of people lost power. This is a connectivity collapse, exposing how fragile communication lifelines can become when electricity is interrupted.
Don't think this is just a European issue. The same script is playing out all over the world. South Africa's endless power crisis. The massive blackout in Pakistan in 2023. And the crazy cold wave in Texas in 2021. At that time, Houston residents melted snow from their roofs into barrels of water just to flush toilets for an entire week. Most people had no heating in sub-zero temperatures, and power and communication were completely cut off. This lesson about infrastructure vulnerability is unforgettable.
The harsh reality? Most of these core infrastructures are outdated and were never designed for today's always-online, data-hungry era. They are now overwhelmed under the pressures of renewable energy integration and explosive digital demand—by 2030, global energy consumption in the tech industry is expected to double. This is why DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) is transitioning from fringe experiments to a key necessity in the blockchain space.
Achieving decentralization with DePIN
The industry must respond more wisely. We need resilience, and this starts with communities, not just top-down solutions.
This is where DePIN truly shines as a solution, especially in maintaining connectivity. DePIN technology coordinates community co-built physical infrastructure using tools like blockchain—the internet network is a typical example. Unlike the model dominated by a single giant, imagine a network driven by thousands of ordinary people and businesses sharing resources (WiFi routers, storage space, or small new devices).
Don't think DePIN is only applicable to networks. It has enormous potential in the energy sector. For instance, community-shared rooftop solar or managing local battery storage through microgrids. This is true energy autonomy—closer to homes and reducing dependence on distant large power plants and fragile transmission lines.
What are the advantages of decentralization? It can significantly reduce the risk of a total collapse caused by single points of failure. When a part of the DePIN network encounters issues, 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 Dharamshala, India, are building a wireless mesh network using waste materials to cope with unstable electricity. In Brooklyn's Red Hook area after Hurricane Sandy, the local mesh network became a lifeline during the blackout. 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 technologies do not have to replace existing systems; they can work alongside them to enhance resilience. OpenRoaming is a prime example—it connects over 3 million routers, achieving 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 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—enhancing and extending existing standards.
Imagine: when a storm destroys a base station, a local DePIN network composed of backup power routers might become the only way for people to send messages, access critical information, or organize rescue efforts. This option will change everything during a complete blackout.
The moment of action
These power outages should not be forgotten news a week later. They must serve as a genuine wake-up call. For all parties maintaining critical services—whether government, business leaders, or urban planners—it’s time to speak frankly: betting on purely centralized systems equals creating disaster. Resources and wisdom must be directed towards decentralized solutions like DePIN. This is not a futuristic decoration; it is the foundation for building the resilience people need.
How to take action? Governments should open up policy space for new models. Telecom operators and businesses need innovative thinking to incorporate community routers, mesh backups, and other decentralized nodes into existing network planning. Building shared DePIN infrastructure through public-private partnerships in vulnerable areas benefits all parties.
Our goal is to build a multi-layer backup system that combines the coverage of traditional networks with the grassroots resilience of decentralization. This is crucial for sectors like transportation, healthcare, and emergency services.
Do not view connectivity as a secondary issue. It is a critical infrastructure just like electricity—affecting safety in disasters, community survival, and basic functionality. To avoid large-scale communication paralysis, cooperation between traditional forces and decentralized newcomers is essential. It's time to reinforce digital lifelines before the next crisis.
Related: The necessity of cross-border cooperation to drive digital asset development
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 necessarily represent or reflect the position of Cointelegraph.