Telecom tower manufacturers have raised concerns over the stoppage of LPG supply, warning that it could disrupt tower production and eventually affect the continuity of mobile and internet services across the country.
The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) said oil companies have halted LPG supplies to telecom tower manufacturing units following a government directive prioritising domestic LPG consumers.
According to the industry body, the supply suspension took effect on March 5, 2026, after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas directed that LPG procured by public sector oil marketing companies be supplied only to household consumers.
Manufacturing operations face disruption
DIPA stated that the halt in LPG supply has created serious operational challenges for telecom tower manufacturing facilities.
Manufacturing processes such as galvanisation, which are crucial for producing telecom towers, rely heavily on LPG or LNG-based heating systems.
To avoid damage to galvanisation plants, some companies have temporarily shifted to low-flame operations to maintain zinc in molten form. However, industry experts warn that prolonged supply disruption may force plants to remove molten zinc and shut down operations completely.
Restarting such facilities can take considerable time, potentially causing extended delays in telecom tower production.
Network expansion may slow down
DIPA members include major telecom infrastructure companies such as Indus Towers and Vodafone Idea.
The industry body warned that if LPG and LNG supply disruptions continue, the telecom tower manufacturing supply chain could face significant setbacks.
Such delays may slow down network expansion projects, including efforts to strengthen connectivity in underserved and capacity-constrained regions.
Industry seeks urgent government intervention
DIPA has written to Amit Agarwal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, requesting urgent intervention.
The association has asked the government to exempt telecom tower manufacturing units from the LPG supply order and restore fuel availability at the earliest.
In addition, DIPA has urged authorities to ensure priority electricity supply to telecom infrastructure and mobile tower sites, especially during grid outages when towers rely on diesel generators.
Industry leaders emphasised that telecom towers form the backbone of India’s digital ecosystem. Any prolonged disruption in fuel supply could affect network uptime, 5G deployment, emergency communication systems, digital governance services, financial transactions and telemedicine platforms.