Regulators
DoT orders emergency diesel access to stop mobile networks from going offline
Government dials in support for telecom firms as fuel curbs threaten to cut lines
NEW DELHI: India is moving fast to ensure your phone signal doesn’t drop just because the fuel tank is running dry. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has stepped in to help mobile tower operators secure steady diesel supplies after regional fuel restrictions, sparked by the ongoing conflict in Iran, began to threaten the nation’s digital backbone.
While state governments have introduced curbs on selling diesel in containers to prevent panic-buying and hoarding, the move has inadvertently pulled the plug on telecom field teams. Many mobile towers, especially in rural areas with patchy electricity, rely on diesel generators to stay online. Without the ability to transport fuel in canisters, these towers risk falling silent.
In an internal memo seen by Moneycontrol, DoT deputy director general (electrical) Amar Relan noted that restrictions in states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have already hit field operations. The department has now ordered its regional units to coordinate with state leaders to bypass these rules, ensuring that telecom infrastructure is treated as a priority.
The alarm was first raised by the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), which warned that the “fuel fatigue” is spreading across Bihar, Jharkhand, and the Northeast. It isn’t just the towers feeling the heat, either. The industry is also facing a squeeze on LPG supplies, which are vital for the galvanisation process in tower manufacturing. Since LPG was diverted to domestic kitchens on 5 March, manufacturing units have been running on fumes, leading to fears of a total standstill in network expansion.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, DIPA director general Manoj Kumar Singh told the power ministry and the DoT in a letter dated 9 April that network uptime is at serious risk. He argued that telecom providers should be granted “essential services” status to ensure they aren’t left in the dark during power outages or fuel shortages.
While Gujarat has already eased its restrictions to keep the data flowing, the DoT is pushing for a nationwide fix. For now, the government is determined to ensure that even if the global oil market is volatile, your 5G connection remains rock solid.
