Telecom services at risk amid nationwide fuel shortage

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) has urged the government to ensure uninterrupted electricity and prioritize fuel supply for telecom infrastructure, warning that prolonged shortages could disrupt nationwide telecommunications and cripple the country’s digital economy.

In a statement Thursday (April 2), AMTOB noted that field-level operations are already being affected by fuel scarcity.

The association said it has repeatedly warned the government about potential disruptions since the onset of global energy crises and rising geopolitical tensions.

While authorities have responded positively, operators report that implementation at the local level remains incomplete.

Recent storms have exacerbated power outages in areas served by the Rural Electrification Board (REB), with restoration times often delayed—a trend likely to continue during the rainy season, further affecting telecom networks.

AMTOB called for a coordinated government support framework, including prioritized fuel supply for key network infrastructure and base transceiver station (BTS) sites, dedicated fuel for maintenance transport, reduced load-shedding in critical telecom zones, and rapid REB power restoration following weather-related outages.

Bangladesh’s telecom network comprises roughly 45,000 towers, multiple data centers, network operations centers, and other critical infrastructure, serving over 18.5 crore people nationwide. These facilities rely on continuous power to maintain service quality. During outages, they depend heavily on diesel- and petrol-powered generators.

“Telecommunications is not merely a service—it is a national infrastructure vital for emergency communications, public safety, government services, digital finance, and everyday connectivity,” the statement said. “Failure to maintain uninterrupted service will disrupt e-commerce, banking and mobile financial services, corporate operations, and online ride-sharing.”

AMTOB urged the government to take immediate measures to ensure sufficient fuel and reliable electricity to maintain continuous telecom services across the country.