Mobile network services face challenges amid fuel crisis: AMTOB

The fuel crisis has made operating mobile networks increasingly challenging. The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) has warned that without immediate government intervention, telecom services may become unsustainable. The industry body has sent a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the sector's regulatory authority, outlining the severity of the situation.

Key operational data shared by the operators shows that running mobile Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) nationwide requires 52,425 litres of diesel and 19,859 litres of octane daily across the three mobile operators. Extended load-shedding hours now force operators to rely on diesel generators to keep BTS sites and data centres functioning.

According to AMTOB, keeping a single data centre running on a generator requires approximately 500-600 litres of diesel per hour. Under current load-shedding conditions, one data centre may now require up to 4,000 litres of fuel per day just to remain active. Local fuel stations are struggling to supply these quantities, and AMTOB has described the situation as a severe and escalating crisis.