Mobile networks are deteriorating due to power outages and energy shortages.

"There is no electricity even for five hours a day. When the power goes out, there is no network. Most of the time, I cannot even make a phone call," said Md. Mosharraf, a resident of Char Bahadurpur village in Phulpur upazila,

Mymensingh. Mobile operators and tower companies report that power outages have increased since the onset of the war in the Middle East. Network quality has suffered over the past few weeks due to disruptions in energy supplies. When a power outage occurs, operators rely on battery backup at tower sites. However, most sites have a backup capacity of only four to six hours. "If the power failure exceeds four to six hours, there is no way to recharge the battery," said Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer at Robi Axiata. Next, mobile operators turn to generators. Yet only about 25 percent of towers have permanent generators, leaving many dependent on portable units. "What is more unfortunate is that we are not receiving sufficient power supply for the towers and critical data centers," Shahed added. There are a total of 46,567 telecom towers across the country. These are managed by tower infrastructure companies and mobile operators. Through them, more than 18.58 crore subscribers access network services. Additionally, operators have around 27 data centers nationwide. He stated that the telecom sector forms the foundation of all digital and economic activities. It cannot be allowed to fail. "If the telecom sector is not given priority in the energy distribution and supply framework, there is a risk of continuous disasters. This will impact businesses, emergency services, and daily life. Ensuring uninterrupted connectivity is no longer just a sectoral issue; it is a national necessity," he added. According to data collected via remote monitoring sensors from tower companies, tower sites have received less electricity than required over the past month. Statistics indicate that between the first week of March and the second week of April, electricity supply in 12 districts dropped from 93 percent to 77 percent. A tower company official noted that thousands of tower operators across the country regularly monitor the amount of electricity they receive. "We have contacted the relevant authorities and highlighted the risks," Sunil said. He also mentioned that priority access to fuel and policy support have been proposed to help navigate these challenging times. The official further believes that proactive and coordinated action is essential, given the level of dependence on digital networks. Mobile operators have sent at least two letters to the telecom regulator in recent weeks, warning of impending nationwide disruptions. The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh stated that the power and energy crisis has reached a point where telecom operations cannot continue without immediate government intervention. Because they are forced to run critical infrastructure on diesel generators due to prolonged power outages, the organization explained. The letter states that operators' base transceiver stations (BTS) consume over 52,000 liters of diesel and about 20,000 liters of octane per day. Each data center uses approximately 500 to 600 liters of diesel per hour, or about 4,000 liters per day. Industry insiders say backup power cannot be relied upon for extended periods. Unlike tower sites, data centers handle call routing and internet traffic. A shutdown at this level could cause severe damage to the entire network. "If energy management is not addressed and data centers are shut down, there will be widespread call drops, internet outages, and service disruptions," said an official at a mobile operator, speaking on condition of anonymity. When contacted, Grameenphone's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Tanvir Mohammad said, "Timely and targeted steps are needed in the current situation to maintain uninterrupted telecom services across the country." He also expressed that government assistance is required to ensure priority electricity, facilitate fuel supply, and enable fuel transportation in emergencies. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Major General (Retd) Md. Emdad-ul-Bari said, "We have been trying to coordinate for over a month and have spoken to the Telecom Ministry and the Energy Ministry. In some areas, supplies have been provided on a priority basis." He acknowledged that fuel supply is low at some tower sites. Emdad also stated that the regulatory body will meet with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation tomorrow and other stakeholders at the end of the week to improve this situation.