Cyclone Remal: 27,000 cell phone towers down, communication affected

More than 26,000 mobile phone towers across Bangladesh, including the coastal areas, are down after Cyclone Remal struck late on Sunday. 

Services had yet to be restored as of the filing of this report on Tuesday. Due to the lack of network access, customers are experiencing difficulties in communication.

Telecommunication companies reported that currently 30,000 towers are without electricity. Of these, around 3,000 towers have been made operational using generators.

According to the latest information from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), about 80% of the sites in Rangamati, Meherpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Barisal and Barguna remain inoperative.

However, service providers hope that mobile network and broadband internet services in the affected areas will become normal by Tuesday afternoon.

The BTRC has also requested the Power Division to ensure a swift restoration of power to the mobile phone towers.