16,000 metres of cable, 2,000 batteries stolen from mobile towers in 20 months

Theft and vandalism of important equipment from mobile phone towers and network installations have increased in various parts of the country. In the past 20 months, about 16,000 metres of power cable and more than 2,000 batteries have been stolen from the network installations of four mobile operators. Alongside this, Remote Radio Units (RRUs) and Base Transceiver Station (BTS) cards are also being stolen from towers.

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) conveyed this information in a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). In the letter sent on September 16, AMTOB sought BTRC's intervention to take prompt measures to prevent the thefts.

In the letter signed by AMTOB Secretary General Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Mohammad Zulfikar, it was stated that these equipment are being stolen from network installations in various areas, including Badda, Mohammadpur, Lalbagh and surrounding areas of the capital, Dhaka district, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Savar and Gazipur. The organisation also claimed that theft incidents have increased significantly this year compared to last year.

The stolen equipment includes power connection cables, remote radio units, network cards and batteries. According to AMTOB, when these equipment are stolen, mobile networks are disrupted locally, causing suffering to customers.

According to information provided by AMTOB, among the four operators, the highest amount of cable and battery thefts occurred at state-owned Teletalk.

Until August of the current year, 7,442 metres of Teletalk's cables, 58 remote radio units, 22 network cards and 793 batteries were stolen. During the same period last year, 6,749 metres of cable, 76 remote radio units, 18 network cards and 452 batteries were stolen.

Until August of the current year, 153 metres of Grameenphone's cables, 51 remote radio units, six network cards and 123 batteries were stolen. During the same period last year, 507 metres of cable, 33 remote radio units, 75 network cards and 27 batteries were stolen.

Until August of the current year, 211 metres of Robi Axiata's cables, 157 remote radio units, 10 network cards and 278 batteries were stolen. During the same period last year, 417 metres of cable, 44 remote radio units, 48 network cards and 253 batteries were stolen.

Until August of the current year, 189 metres of Banglalink's cables, 48 remote radio units, nine network cards and 53 batteries were stolen. During the same period last year, 291 metres of cable, 41 remote radio units, 29 network cards and 24 batteries were stolen.

AMTOB said that due to these thefts, mobile networks and services are being disrupted at the local level. When networks are down, operators not only lose income but also incur additional costs to replace the stolen specialised equipment and heavy cables. The organisation also said there is a risk of customer trust declining due to repeated service outages.

The organisation claimed that mobile operators are undertaking various initiatives and investments to secure important telecommunication infrastructure. Even then, protecting these installations has become a major challenge. Although cooperation from local law enforcement agencies has been sought to prevent thefts, no significant improvement has yet been achieved.

In this situation, AMTOB has sought BTRC's intervention to take prompt and coordinated measures to identify and arrest those involved in the thefts and to prevent organised crime targeting important telecommunication infrastructure. Copies of the letter have also been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Posts and Telecommunications Division, Police Headquarters, Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the Deputy Inspector General of Dhaka Range.

According to BTRC data, more than 45,000 network towers are operational across the country through the joint initiatives of mobile operators and tower companies.

The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association has demanded ensuring urgent security measures to stop the theft of cables and batteries from these towers. The organisation has identified risky mobile towers and put forward a six-point demand, including special security measures.

In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation's president, Mohiuddin Ahmed, said there is a risk of a major network disaster if the thefts continue.

He said mobile tower cables cannot be viewed merely as the infrastructure of a private company; it is part of the country's essential communication infrastructure. Banking, mobile financial services, e-commerce, government and private digital services, emergency communications and various activities of people's daily lives depend on mobile networks.

According to Mohiuddin Ahmed, backup batteries play an important role in keeping mobile towers operational when electricity goes out. If these batteries are stolen, towers can quickly become inoperative during power outages. Similarly, if power and fibre connection cables are stolen, there is a risk of direct disruption to network services.