Bangladesh has always been subject to cyclones, often with devastating consequences. A cyclone in 1970 resulted in the deaths of at least 300,000 - and maybe as many as 500,000 -, while a 1991 cyclone saw winds of 250 km/h. This caused seas to surge by six metres and led to the deaths of 138,000 people. 

When Cyclone Mocha bore down on the coast of Bangladesh and Myanmar in mid-May, it reminded many of these past terrible events of 1991. Fortunately, 30 years on, the death toll from the cyclone is much lower, largely thanks to the lessons learnt, cooperation of the state authorities and mobile operator companies, and the evolution of communications technology.

Where the risks from previous cyclones had previously been hard to communicate, the recently expanded 4G networks in Bangladesh enabled alerts and advice to be provided, helping authorities to evacuate 750,000 people away from the epicenter.   

Determined to protect the country’s population, mobile operators worked with the Government of Bangladesh to develop an early warning system for people trapped in the path of the cyclone. 

For example, Banglalink, one of Bangladesh’s four mobile operators, provided real-time updates and warnings from the Bangladesh Government’s meteorologists that gave several days’ warning of where and when Cyclone Mocha would hit.

The information was communicated through the Banglalink app for those with smartphones (approaching half of the population of Bangladesh), on Banglalink social channels and by SMS for those with standard phones. Similar alerting systems were put in place by the other operators.

Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer for Banglalink, explains the context: “Since 1998, Bangladesh has seen seven or eight cyclones, but thankfully not many people have died. I think this is because we now have cyclone shelters provided by the government, and the means to alert people. 

“We have previously sent SMS alerts to the entire subscriber base before the cyclone comes in. But when 4G came into Bangladesh after 2018, we are able to send much more detailed information including graphics and videos through the Banglalink app.”

This meant that where before there had been limited advance warning on SMS, for Cyclone Mocha there were multiple alerts issued to enable people to secure their family and property ahead of the storm hitting. 

The early warning also provided time for those who needed to be evacuated from the path of the cyclone, and allowed people to keep track of developments as Mocha changed course. Smartphone users could see if they were in the path of the cyclone and need to take evasive action. 

The mobile operators also ensured that their networks would be able to continue operating, even in the worst case scenario, organising their back-up logistics. Maintenance teams were put on standby and generators were stockpiled at critical locations within the cyclone trajectory, as interruption to power supplies posed the biggest risk to the functioning of the network.

As Mocha hit land with 210 km/h winds near the city of Chittagong, the population was prepared and the networks proved resilient. Despite 126 of Banglalink’s towers being knocked out by the storm, 80 were restored that day using backup generators and the rest were all were back online a day later.

Another major humanitarian concern as Mocha hit was the refugee camp at Cox’s Bazaar - the world’s largest of its kind, and home to 919,000 highly vulnerable Rohingya refugees. This area was very close to where cyclone Mocha made landfall. Operators had taken special precautions to ensure that the masts covering Cox’s Bazaar remained operational, as communication is as essential as food, water and shelter for refugees.

“The advent of 4G has improved lives the world over, but in developing and disaster-prone countries like Bangladesh it is literally a lifeline,” explains Rahman. “For the people of Bangladesh, and especially those refugees in Cox’s Bazaar, 4G provided essential forewarning of Cyclone Mocha.”