Bangladesh’s telecom network, the backbone of people’s daily life, is coming under strain as fuel shortages collide with prolonged power cuts, raising the risk of widespread service disruption.
Mobile operators say the problem is no longer technical, but logistical.
When electricity fails, towers and data systems first switch to batteries, but those last only a few hours.
After that, the entire network depends on diesel and petrol-powered generators.
If fuel cannot reach those generators on time, the signal drops.
“Early signs of disruption are already visible, with some areas experiencing weakened connectivity,” said Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh Secretary General Mohammad Zulfikar.
The warning signals a deeper structural issue.
Bangladesh’s telecom system runs on about 45,000 towers, alongside data centres and Network Operations Centres that must operate 24 hours a day without interruption.
Each site is part of a chain.
If one fails, it weakens coverage across surrounding areas.
If several fail together, entire regions can go offline.
Operators say that is now a growing risk.
Fuel shortages across the country have made it difficult to keep generators running, especially in rural and remote areas where supply disruptions are more severe.
At the same time, power outages are becoming longer and more frequent, increasing dependence on fuel just as it becomes harder to secure.
Storms have worsened the situation by damaging power lines and delaying restoration by distribution authorities, forcing telecom operators to rely on generators for extended periods.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh said the combination of fuel constraints, extended outages, and weather disruptions is pushing the system closer to operational limits.
A March 20 letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission warned that many mobile sites had already gone offline after battery backups were exhausted during outages.
Keeping generators running has also become costlier, as operators deploy teams around the clock to refuel sites and maintain services.
Even with higher spending, they say service quality is slipping in some areas.
The impact is not limited to dropped calls or slower internet.
Telecom networks now underpin emergency services, digital banking, mobile financial services, e-commerce, and ride-sharing platforms.
A disruption in connectivity can ripple across the economy, affecting payments, logistics, and public safety.
Operators are urging the government to prioritise fuel supply for telecom infrastructure, reduce load shedding at critical sites, and speed up electricity restoration after storms.
Without those steps, they warn, the country risks a cascade failure where power shortages translate into communication breakdowns.
For millions of users, that could mean more than inconvenience.
It could mean losing access to essential services at the very moment they are needed most.
