Cyclone Arnab: mobile network back to 99% in Andhra Pradesh; how to connect if your operator is down

Mobile networks are steadily coming back in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha hit by Cyclone Arnab, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said on Friday night. Emergency measures remain in place so that people in affected districts can make calls even if their own operator's network is down.

The cyclone crossed the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, bringing heavy rain, flash floods and fallen trees, which damaged power lines and cut optical fibre cables that carry telecom traffic.

Where things stand

Andhra Pradesh

• Overall network availability in the state has reached 99.18%.
• In West Godavari it is 98.5%.
• In Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema it is 91.96%, the lowest among the districts the DoT listed.
• 11 Cell on Wheels (COWs), mobile towers mounted on vehicles, have been deployed to fill gaps.
• Power cuts and localised fibre cuts are the main reasons some sites are still down.

Odisha

• In Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts, service is improving as rain eases and floodwater recedes.
• Operators have started repair work at damaged sites. The DoT did not give percentage figures for Odisha.

If your phone shows "No service": use intra-circle roaming

The DoT has activated intra-circle roaming (ICR) in affected districts of Andhra Pradesh. ICR lets your phone connect to any operator's network in the area, even if your own operator has no signal. It is switched on by the government during disasters for exactly this reason.

To use it:

1. Make sure Automatic network selection is turned on in your phone's settings. In most cases your phone will then connect by itself.
2. If it does not, go to Settings > Mobile network > Network operators (the exact wording varies by phone).
3. Turn off automatic selection and choose another available network manually.

You can make calls this way without changing your SIM or paying extra charges.

Staying safe after a cyclone

• Keep your phone charged and save battery: lower screen brightness and close apps you do not need.
• Use text messages where possible. They often get through when calls do not.
• Keep calls short so the network stays free for emergency use.
• Avoid fallen power lines and flooded roads.
• Follow updates from the India Meteorological Department and your district administration, not forwarded messages.
• In an emergency, call 112.

The DoT said operators are working "on a priority basis" to restore the remaining sites. Think Today News will update this report with official figures.

Correction, 31 October 2026: An earlier version of this story said the government announcement was made on Thursday. It was made on Friday, 30 October.