BTRC discusses disaster-time telecom strategy with national stakeholders

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) convened a high-level stakeholder meeting on 15 July 2025 to discuss strategies for ensuring uninterrupted telecommunications services during disasters. The session, held at the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, brought together representatives from government agencies, private organisations, mobile operators, and telecom infrastructure companies.

Chaired by Brigadier General (Retd.) Iqbal Ahmed, Commissioner of the BTRC's Engineering and Operations Division, the meeting addressed challenges such as power outages, network failures, disruptions to broadband and tower links, fuel shortages, and technician inaccessibility during emergencies.

Brigadier General Shafiul Azam Parvez, Director General of the Engineering and Operations Division, outlined key concerns including damage to fibre optics and microwave links, call drops, and the lack of alternative communication systems. He stressed the need for coordinated disaster response, improved infrastructure protection, and a sustainable policy framework.

Telecom operators and Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Networks (NTTN) representatives emphasised their reliance on the Power Development Board (PDB) and the Rural Electrification Board (REB) and called for the recognition of telecom services as essential services. They advocated for shorter blackouts, pre-disaster readiness of power authorities, and the creation of an effective disaster response committee.

The Bangladesh Satellite Company proposed deploying VSAT equipment and installing permanent generators and solar systems in disaster-prone areas, using vulnerability maps developed by the Planning Commission. Tower companies echoed the need for permanent generator installations and suggested zoning regions based on disaster risks to prioritise support.

A representative from REB explained the need for pre-emptive power disconnection due to tree-covered lines in rural areas and shared updates on the installation of resilient electric poles and upgraded insulators in coastal regions.

The Department of Disaster Management expressed openness to incorporating stakeholder recommendations in the government's five-year disaster management plan.

In his closing remarks, Commissioner Iqbal Ahmed emphasised the importance of data sharing, categorising disaster-time issues, and integrating telecom infrastructure into national disaster preparedness frameworks. He urged all stakeholders to enhance their individual network capacities and work collaboratively toward a comprehensive and sustainable emergency response strategy.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Mahmud Hossain from the BTRC's Spectrum Division, senior officials from the Armed Forces Division, Department of Disaster Management, PDB, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, mobile network operators, NTTN and tower sharing companies, international terrestrial cable operators, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh, and the Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh.