Bangladesh currently has more than 185 million mobile subscribers, making telecom connectivity one of the most critical infrastructure systems in the country

TDS Desk:

Bangladesh’s mobile telecommunications sector is facing one of its most severe operational stresses in recent years as prolonged electricity shortages and tightening fuel supplies push network infrastructure into heavy generator dependence, raising fears of a large-scale communication disruption.

Industry data and emergency correspondence from the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) indicate that the crisis is no longer confined to operational inconvenience but is increasingly evolving into a structural risk for the country’s digital connectivity.

With grid electricity unavailable for five to eight hours daily in several regions, mobile operators have become almost entirely reliant on diesel generators to keep base stations, data centres, and switching facilities running.

According to operator estimates, the telecom sector is now consuming close to 100,000 litres of fuel per day to sustain mobile network operations nationwide.

The breakdown shows:

52,425 litres of diesel and 19,859 litres of octane daily for base transceiver stations (BTS)

27,196 litres of diesel per day for data centres and switching infrastructure

Additional consumption at peak load reaching 500–600 litres of diesel per hour at critical data facilities when grid power fails

Major operators—Grameenphone, Robi Axiata and Banglalink—collectively account for the largest share of this demand, with data centre operations alone consuming more than 27,000 litres of diesel daily.

Energy experts say the scale of consumption highlights a growing structural vulnerability: a national telecom system effectively running on emergency power.

At the heart of the concern are telecom data centres—critical facilities that route, process, and control all mobile voice and internet traffic.

Earlier, Lt Col (retd) Mohammad Zulfikar, secretary general of AMTOB, warned that any disruption at these facilities could trigger immediate nationwide service failure.

“The data centre is the brain of the operator. If it goes down, the entire network goes down,” he said.

Operators note that these centres require around 4 megawatts of electricity daily, and in the absence of a grid supply, continuous generator operation has become unavoidable, rapidly accelerating fuel consumption.

Bangladesh currently has more than 185 million mobile subscribers, making telecom connectivity one of the most critical infrastructure systems in the country.

Industry assessments suggest a phased deterioration scenario if the crisis continues:

40–50% of users in rural and peripheral areas may already face degraded service

Service disruptions could then expand into urban areas

Ultimately, 60–70% of total users—over 110 million people—could experience partial or complete disruption

Early warning signs include:

Frequent call drops

Slower internet speeds

Intermittent mobile data service

Localised “black zones” in weak-grid areas

Operators warn that rural regions are the most vulnerable due to weaker infrastructure and limited fuel logistics.

In its emergency communication to BTRC, AMTOB highlighted that the crisis is being compounded by logistical constraints beyond fuel shortages.

Key issues include:

Disruption in inter-district fuel transportation

Limited direct fuel supply from depots

Restrictions affecting emergency fuel movement

Declining fuel reserves at critical telecom sites

These constraints, the association warned, are making it increasingly difficult to sustain uninterrupted network operations even where fuel is available in the broader market.

Telecom executives caution that the crisis extends far beyond connectivity issues and could significantly impact economic stability.

Talking to the media, Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata, described the situation as nearing a “breaking point,” noting that prolonged outages are forcing operators into unsustainable fuel dependency.

He warned that without a stable electricity supply and coordinated fuel logistics, temporary disruptions could turn into persistent network “black zones,” especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Tanveer Mohammad, chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone, said the situation demands urgent, targeted intervention.

“We seek uninterrupted power supply to critical telecom infrastructure, priority access to electricity for data centres, streamlined fuel supply arrangements, and facilitation of fuel transportation,” he said.

He added that without such measures, maintaining uninterrupted connectivity for millions of users would become increasingly difficult.

Similarly, Banglalink’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer Taimur Rahman says the growing dependence on fuel is becoming increasingly unsustainable, and the sector’s designation as an essential service must be reflected in practice.

He argues that telecommunications should be treated as a priority utility, with assured electricity supply for critical infrastructure and simplified access to fuel. These steps are essential not only for maintaining network continuity but also for safeguarding the country’s digital backbone, he notes.

BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari acknowledged the severity of the situation, reiterating that telecom services are classified as essential infrastructure.

He said the commission is working in coordination with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Power Division, and the Ministry of ICT to stabilise supply conditions.

However, industry leaders stress that coordination must translate into rapid operational action to prevent a systemic failure.

Experts warn that the telecom crisis now represents a broader threat to Bangladesh’s digital economy, which increasingly depends on uninterrupted connectivity.

Mobile networks underpin:

Digital banking and financial inclusion

E-commerce and logistics systems

Export-oriented industries, especially garments

Government digital services

Emergency response coordination

Any prolonged disruption, analysts say, could result in economic losses, reduced productivity, and widespread service interruptions affecting millions.

As fuel shortages persist and power instability continues, Bangladesh’s telecom sector is operating under unprecedented strain.

What was once a backup-dependent infrastructure has now become fully reliant on emergency systems to stay online.

Industry stakeholders warn that without immediate stabilisation of electricity supply and fuel logistics, the country risks entering a phase where connectivity—once taken for granted—could become increasingly unreliable for a majority of its population.