The telecom industry has submitted detailed data to the government’s Joint Task Force examining the demand for an industrial electricity tariff for telecom operators, with companies seeking a shift from the existing commercial tariff to reduce their mounting power costs, sources said.
According to sources, telecom operators have provided the task force with comprehensive data on their overall electricity expenditures, including details of telecom sites across the country and their electricity consumption.
The operators have also quantified the financial impact of the differential between commercial and industrial electricity tariffs, besides furnishing details of electricity bills and their payment records.
The data submitted to the task force also covers the duration of load-shedding and its impact on telecom networks. Operators have provided details of additional expenditure incurred on diesel and backup power during outages.
The task force has further been informed about telecom sites dependent on generators and other backup power systems, as well as critical telecom installations requiring uninterrupted electricity supply.
Sources said the telecom industry has strongly advocated the application of the industrial electricity tariff to telecom operators instead of the commercial tariff, arguing that the sector is a critical component of the country’s digital and economic infrastructure.
The operators have also submitted information regarding their investments and the telecom sector’s contribution to the national economy to support their case for a more competitive electricity tariff.
The Joint Task Force is also examining proposals for smart-grid solutions and dedicated power feeders for telecom sites alongside the proposed industrial tariff, sources added.
The move comes amid growing concerns within the telecom sector over high operating costs, with electricity expenses and prolonged power outages adding to the cost of maintaining nationwide mobile and digital connectivity.
The task force is expected to assess the financial and operational implications of the proposals before making recommendations to the government regarding the applicability of an industrial electricity tariff to the telecom sector.
