The Imperial Communications Center, alternatively named the Imperial Communications Tower, situated on the Outer Rim planet of Lothal, served as the central hub for all communication transmissions on the planet during the Galactic Empire's rule. It facilitated the sending of messages from Lothal to locations across the planet, into orbit, and to neighboring star systems. Following the crew's of the Ghost's utilization of the tower to broadcast a rebellious message throughout Lothal and to other star systems, the Empire destroyed it.
In 4 BBY, the activities of a rebel cell operating on the Outer Rim planet of Lothal garnered the attention of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, a high-ranking officer within the Galactic Empire. Having become aware of the rebel cell's stories, and the fact that their leader, Kanan Jarrus, was a Jedi, Tarkin initiated a plan that resulted in Jarrus' capture. His capture occurred during a rebel operation aimed at infiltrating the main communications tower to disseminate a transmission to Lothal. This transmission was intended to allow the rebels to refute the Imperial accusations of criminal behavior and instead reveal their identity as rebels fighting against Imperial oppression. The rebels managed to transmit the signal to Lothal and other worlds, but Jarrus was apprehended at the tower.
During the transmission, which was sent by Ezra Bridger, the Empire carried out the tower's destruction. The destruction of the tower impeded communication on Lothal, even among Imperial forces. The Imperial Military then resorted to using astromech droids in order to relay messages from the planet to a communications ship stationed in orbit.