Telcos seek priority fuel supply amid concerns

Mobile operators have urged the government to ensure priority fuel supply and stable electricity for telecom infrastructure, warning that any possible shortages could disrupt nationwide connectivity.

In a letter sent to the chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission on Monday, the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) said the situation has already begun affecting telecom operations.

Referring to the government’s responsible power-consumption directives, Mohammad Zulfikar, secretary general of AMTOB, said, “Following the latest directives, many fuel stations have either stopped fuel supply altogether or are dispensing significantly reduced volumes.”

The letter also called for priority and uninterrupted fuel supply for core network locations and data centres, assured fuel availability for base transceiver station (BTS) sites of the four mobile operators and four tower companies, and maintenance transport, and reduced load shedding at critical telecom facilities.

AMTOB said telecommunications is a declared essential service and currently serves more than 185 million subscribers in Bangladesh, supporting critical services.

“Telecommunication services constitute critical national infrastructure and play an indispensable role in enabling emergency communications, public safety, government services, digital financial transactions, business operations and everyday connectivity for citizens,” Zulfikar said.

Operators said their networks remain heavily dependent on diesel and petrol-powered generators, particularly during power outages, to keep thousands of base stations, transmission links and data centres running.

“Any disruption to fuel availability therefore poses a serious risk to uninterrupted nationwide connectivity,” Zulfikar added.

Without reliable fuel supply, the association warned, telecom networks could face outages across large geographical areas, potentially affecting government services, emergency communication systems and business operations.

In the letter, AMTOB requested the telecom regulator to coordinate with relevant authorities so that telecommunications services are treated as a priority sector for fuel allocation.

“We remain fully committed to ensuring nationwide network availability and supporting national stability through uninterrupted communication services for the people of Bangladesh,” Zulfikar said.