Published: 12:41 AM, 23 April 2026
Mobile services face power, fuel shock
Frequent power outages and a shortage of fuel have put pressure on mobile network operations, prompting regulators to step in to keep services running.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is set to hold talks with the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), mobile operators, national transmission and telecom infrastructure providers, and tower companies over the situation on Wednesday, bdnews24 reports.
Another meeting with power sector agencies is scheduled for Thursday to ensure electricity supply to telecom infrastructure.
Companies have become increasingly dependent on generators to keep mobile towers, data centres and other infrastructure running amid frequent load shedding, even as fuel supplies remain tight.
Mobile operators warned earlier that services could face a total shutdown at any moment, while tower firms are urging the government to classify their operations as "essential services".
The BTRC shared these developments in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the commission is actively working to secure priority fuel and electricity for mobile networks, data centres, and core sites to ensure nationwide connectivity remains uninterrupted.
The BTRC initially reached out to the Posts and Telecommunications Division on Mar 12 to demand emergency allocations.
Recognising the gravity of the situation, the division subsequently urged the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, along with local district administrators, to take immediate action on Mar 13.
The BTRC also wrote again to the ministry on Apr 20, seeking support from law-enforcing agencies to ensure fuel transport and maintenance at tower sites amid the ongoing crisis.
The letter said uninterrupted telecom services depend on keeping networks operational at all times, but "excessive load shedding and inadequate power supply" are causing frequent site outages and server disruptions.
As a result, operators are becoming increasingly reliant on generators, making secure fuel transport and operational support critical, it added.
In its latest statement, the BTRC said the emergency meeting aims to "resolve the deep-seated concerns of telecom stakeholders and guarantee a steady fuel supply for the sector".
The meeting will include representatives from NTTN operators, tower companies, and the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB).
Tower Companies' Call
The Bangladesh TowerCo Association (BTA) has urged the government to declare the telecom sector an essential service and ensure dedicated fuel allocation.
The organisation raised the issue in recent discussions with the BTRC and the energy and mineral resources ministry, calling for urgent steps to maintain uninterrupted services.
With more than 45,000 telecom towers across the country dependent on grid electricity and fuel-powered backup systems, the ongoing fuel shortage is directly affecting operations, raising the risk of widespread service disruption for millions of users.
Sunil Isaac, interim president of BTA and country managing director of EDOTCO Bangladesh, expressed concern, saying that the country's telecommunications services are now at a "critical risk".
He argued that to maintain seamless connectivity, the sector must be kept operational at any cost, necessitating the inclusion of this vital infrastructure under the emergency services category.
