Telecom Towers Threaten Turbulence Without Fuel Fix

The collective body of telecom tower companies, the Bangladesh TowerCo Association (BTA), has called for bringing the telecommunications sector under emergency services and allocating special fuel supplies. The organization warned that failure to take prompt action to ensure uninterrupted services and avert large-scale national disruption could negatively impact the country’s overall economy.

BTA raised the issue during a discussion with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. On Tuesday, 21 April, the organization stated that, alongside special fuel allocation, it has urged the government to review the current situation and take necessary measures to ensure seamless telecommunications services.

Expressing concern, BTA’s interim president and Country Managing Director of edotco Bangladesh, Sunil Isaac, said, “Bangladesh’s telecommunications services are now at serious risk. To ensure uninterrupted service, this sector must be kept operational at any cost. Therefore, it is necessary to bring this critical infrastructure under emergency services and take appropriate measures.”

He further added, “From small and large businesses to banks, IT, and service providers, all are heavily dependent on digital connectivity. Any disruption in connectivity will affect every sector. Therefore, practical solutions to the ongoing crisis and necessary actions to mitigate risks must be ensured. For this reason, we have begun working with the relevant authorities to secure priority-based fuel allocation along with policy support.”

According to sources, there are more than 45,000 telecom towers across the country, which remain operational through reliance on the power grid and fuel-dependent backup systems (generators). As a result, the ongoing fuel crisis is now directly impacting this sector. Fuel shortages may disrupt uninterrupted services and cause major connectivity breakdowns, potentially affecting millions of customers.

Highlighting telecommunications as a key driver of the digital economy, the organization stated that any disruption in connectivity would impact financial transactions, export coordination, emergency communications, and public services—along with every other critical sector. Without timely intervention, the country may face the risk of severe economic losses. To avert such a crisis, BTA has urged the government to take appropriate measures alongside providing policy support.

DBTech/TM/EK/OR