Telecom sector should be declared emergency service amid fuel crisis: Towerco Association

The Bangladesh Towerco Association (BTA), an organisation of telecom tower companies, has demanded that the telecom sector be declared an emergency service and allocated special fuel supplies in the context of the ongoing fuel crisis.

The organisation has warned that the country's digital economy and overall economic activities could suffer negative consequences if swift action is not taken.

BTA recently raised the issue during discussions with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, demanding special allocations and policy support on an emergency basis to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for telecom infrastructure.

According to the association, over 45,000 telecom towers in the country operate through the power grid and generator-based backup systems. Fuel shortages are directly disrupting network services, which could affect the communication systems of millions of customers.

Sunil Isaac, interim president of BTA and Country Managing Director of edotco Bangladesh, said the country's telecom services are currently at risk. He stressed the need to bring the sector under emergency services to ensure the necessary fuel to keep infrastructure operational.

He added that banks, IT, and various service sectors are entirely dependent on digital connectivity, and any disruption could cause significant damage across all sectors, requiring swift solutions and policy support.

BTA warned that if telecom services are disrupted, there would be a widespread impact on financial transactions, export activities, emergency communications and public services, and failure to act in time could expose the country to major economic risks.