[🇧🇩] Telecommunication Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Telecom operators seek priority fuel supply to avoid disruptions

Mobile telecom operators have urged the government to ensure priority fuel supply and stable electricity for telecom infrastructure, warning that prolonged shortages could disrupt nationwide connectivity and affect the digital economy. The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMT

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Telecom operators seek priority fuel supply to avoid disruptions

UNB
Published :
Apr 02, 2026 16:54
Updated :
Apr 02, 2026 18:06

Mobile telecom operators have urged the government to ensure priority fuel supply and stable electricity for telecom infrastructure, warning that prolonged shortages could disrupt nationwide connectivity and affect the digital economy.

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) made the call in a press release on Thursday, citing growing operational challenges amid the emerging global fuel crisis and “power disruptions.”

According to the operators, escalating geopolitical tensions have triggered concerns over fuel availability, posing risks to uninterrupted telecom services.

Although the government has responded positively and instructed relevant authorities to extend support, the situation on the ground has yet to fully reflect those directives, they said.

The mobile network operators (MNOs) alerted the government regarding foreseeable disruptions to seamless telecom operations.

At the same time, recent storms have led to a noticeable increase in power outages in areas under Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, with restoration times in many areas becoming prolonged, they said, adding that a similar trend is expected during the rainy season, further increasing operational vulnerability for telecom networks.

In this context, the industry has sought, on a urgent basis, a comprehensive support framework that includes priority and uninterrupted fuel supply for core network locations, assured fuel availability for Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites operated by the four mobile operators and four tower companies, dedicated fuel allocation for maintenance transport, reduced load shedding at critical telecom facilities and the fastest possible restoration of power following storms and weather-related disruptions.

Bangladesh’s telecom network infrastructure comprises approximately 45,000 towers, multiple operators-owned data centres, Network Operations Centres (NOCs) and many other critical network components covering nearly 100% of the country’s geographical area and providing essential telecommunication services to 185 million people.

All the MNO network elements, including radio access sites, switching nodes, core network platforms, data centres, and NOCs, require a stable, reliable, and uninterrupted electricity supply on a 24/7 basis to maintain service continuity, network quality, and national connectivity.

Despite its scale and critical importance, the network remains heavily dependent on diesel and petrol-powered generators, particularly during power outages, load shedding, and natural disasters. In addition to the ongoing global energy crisis, Bangladesh is also prone to major cyclones and floods, which lead to fuel and energy shortages. Therefore, any disruption to fuel availability poses a serious risk to uninterrupted nationwide connectivity.

The MNOs urgently call on the government to take necessary measures to ensure adequate fuel and electricity supply to maintain uninterrupted telecom operations, safeguard nationwide network availability, and provide stable, continuous communication services for the people of Bangladesh.​

 

[Saif]

Energy crisis: Generator-dependent mobile networks under pressure from power shortages

The ongoing load-shedding and power crisis in the country are now beginning to affect mobile network infrastructure. Due to the irregular supply from the national grid, network operations have become almost entirely dependent on generators. As a result, daily fuel demand has surged to nearly...

en.prothomalo.com

Energy crisis: Generator-dependent mobile networks under pressure from power shortages

Operators fear that further disruptions in electricity and fuel supply will initially weaken network coverage in rural and marginal areas. This could subsequently lead to call drops, data slowdowns, and partial network outages in urban areas as well.

Syed Rifat Moslem
Dhaka
Published: 20 Apr 2026, 22: 00

Mobile phone tower Reuters file photo

The ongoing load-shedding and power crisis in the country are now beginning to affect mobile network infrastructure. Due to the irregular supply from the national grid, network operations have become almost entirely dependent on generators. As a result, daily fuel demand has surged to nearly 100,000 litres.

According to data from mobile operators, approximately 52,425 litres of diesel and 19,859 litres of octane are being consumed each day merely to keep mobile base transceiver stations (BTS) operational.

In addition, a further 27,196 litres of diesel are required to maintain data centres and switching infrastructure, they said.

However, operators warn that if adequate fuel supplies are not ensured amid the fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war, its impact could rapidly spread across the mobile network.

An analysis of operator data shows that data centres located across different regions of the country require around 4 megawatts of electricity daily. In the absence of grid power, maintaining these facilities requires between 500 and 600 litres of fuel per hour.

Operator authorities report that the data centres of Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink together consume an average of 27,196 litres of diesel daily—of which Grameenphone accounts for 11,184 litres, Robi 9,732 litres, and Banglalink 8,200 litres.

Operators do have backup systems but under the current circumstances, there are concerns about how long such backup can be sustained. It must be remembered that the data centre is the brain of the operator—if it goes down, the entire network goes down.
Lieutenant Colonel (retd.) Mohammad Zulfikar, Secretary General of AMTOB

According to the latest data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the country has more than 185 million mobile subscribers.

Operators fear that further disruptions in electricity and fuel supply will initially weaken network coverage in rural and marginal areas. This could subsequently lead to call drops, data slowdowns, and partial network outages in urban areas as well.

If generators cannot be run for extended periods, there is also a risk of complete network shutdowns in specific locations, they apprehended.

Lieutenant Colonel (retd.) Mohammad Zulfikar, Secretary General of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), told Prothom Alo that any disruption or shutdown of operators’ data centres due to power or fuel shortages could quickly have widespread repercussions across the entire network.

“Operators do have backup systems,” he said, “but under the current circumstances, there are concerns about how long such backup can be sustained. It must be remembered that the data centre is the brain of the operator—if it goes down, the entire network goes down.”

Letter to BTRC

In this context, AMTOB sent an urgent letter to BTRC last Saturday. The letter states that during storms, many parts of the country are experiencing continuous load-shedding lasting five to eight hours a day. As a result, operators have become fully reliant on generators. If the electricity and fuel crisis persists, the country’s mobile network system could face the risk of a major disruption.

AMTOB also warned that any large-scale network disruption would affect emergency ambulance and fire service communications, banking and mobile financial services, government digital operations, and coordination among law enforcement agencies.

Highlighting logistical challenges alongside fuel shortages, the letter further notes that barriers imposed by law enforcement agencies during inter-district fuel transportation, coupled with the absence of direct supply from depots, have caused fuel reserves at many critical telecom sites to fall to alarming levels.

AMTOB also warned that any large-scale network disruption would affect emergency ambulance and fire service communications, banking and mobile financial services, government digital operations, and coordination among law enforcement agencies.

The letter recommends four urgent measures: ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to core networks and data centres; prioritising power connections for BTS sites; enabling direct fuel supply at designated operator points; and issuing clear instructions to prevent obstruction of telecom fuel transportation.

BTRC Chairman Major General (retd.) Md Emdad ul Bari told Prothom Alo that telecommunications is an essential service. Efforts are being made in coordination with the ministries of Posts and Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technology, and Power and Energy to ensure that services are not disrupted under any circumstances.

However, he added that safeguards would also be in place to prevent misuse under the guise of priority access.

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