At least 80 percent of Bangladesh’s 46,014 telecom towers are suffering from unreliable electricity supply, creating serious challenges for mobile network operators and tower companies. Senior officials raised the concern during the launch of the newly formed Bangladesh TowerCo Association in Dhaka on Wednesday.
“The combined electricity demand for all 45,000 telecom towers is around 500 megawatts. On average, each tower requires 3 kilowatts of power—but most are struggling to get a stable power connection,” said Sunil Isaac, Country Managing Director of EDOTCO Bangladesh.
Expressing his frustration, Isaac noted that repeated attempts to coordinate with power utility companies have failed to resolve the issue. “Reliable electricity is critical to ensure uninterrupted service for mobile subscribers,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Md Noor-A-Alam Siddiqi, Chief Technical Officer of Summit Towers Ltd., said, “At least 80 percent of the country’s telecom towers are facing electricity shortages. The government must focus on two key areas: adequate power generation and improvement of the weak distribution network. Without that, the sector may face an investment drought.”
Sirajus Salehin, CEO of Frontier Tower, added, “There are several ongoing challenges in this sector, including complex tower acquisition processes and interruptions in fuel supply.”
He emphasized the need for a sustainable policy framework to ensure robust infrastructure and reliable backup systems for telecom services. “A stable ecosystem is essential to support long-term investments and quality service delivery,” Salehin said.
Industry insiders have urged the government to prioritise power supply to telecom towers, citing its critical role in supporting the digital economy and ensuring nationwide connectivity.