The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in coordination with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), is undertaking emergency restoration efforts to revive communication networks across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha following the landfall of Cyclone Arnab along the coastline of both states. According to the Ministry of Communications, telecom network availability in Andhra Pradesh has already reached 99.18 per cent as of 31 October 2026.

Scale of Disruption

Widespread heavy rainfall, flash floods, uprooted trees, and power infrastructure damage severely impacted telecom services across affected parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and adjoining regions. The combination of optical fibre cable breaks and power supply failures at tower sites caused the bulk of the outages, according to the ministry.

What the Government Said

'Significant progress has been achieved in restoring network connectivity across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, with particular focus on resolving power supply disruptions and restoring optical fibre connectivity,' the Ministry of Communications stated. The ministry added: 'Emergency connectivity arrangements, including ICR and COW deployments, are being maintained to facilitate uninterrupted communication for citizens and support relief and restoration activities in the affected regions.'

Odisha Districts Still Recovering

In Odisha, the telecom situation in Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal districts is gradually improving as rainfall eases and floodwaters recede. TSPs have initiated site-level restoration work, resulting in progressive reduction in service disruptions. All operators are reportedly working on a priority basis to normalise connectivity at the remaining affected sites.

Role of Intra-Circle Roaming in Disaster Response

Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) is a critical disaster-response mechanism that allows mobile subscribers to connect to another operator's network within the same telecom circle when their own provider's infrastructure is damaged. During such emergencies, DoT issues specific instructions to TSPs to activate ICR, ensuring citizens retain access to mobile services even in areas where towers are down. COW (Cell on Wheels) units — mobile tower vehicles — are simultaneously deployed to plug coverage gaps until permanent infrastructure is restored.

What Comes Next

All TSPs are making sustained efforts to restore the remaining affected sites at the earliest. The ministry has indicated continuous monitoring of the network situation until full normalisation is achieved. The pace of recovery in Odisha's interior districts will depend significantly on the speed at which floodwaters recede and road access is restored for repair crews.