Pakistan’s telecom regulator has given technical approval for the merger of Telenor Pakistan with Ufone, marking a major step in consolidating the country’s mobile network industry, Dawn has reported.
Since Ufone operates under Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL), the company will formally notify the Pakistan Stock Exchange about this development. Officials say no additional board approvals are required, as earlier permissions for the acquisition have already been secured. The next step involves legal clearance, with an application for amalgamation to be submitted to the Islamabad High Court.
The merger process is expected to take about four weeks. During this period, authorities will ensure there are no pending legal disputes involving taxes, loans, consumers, or other telecom operators. Input will also be taken from institutions like the State Bank and the Federal Board of Revenue.
Following approval, both companies will begin integrating their technical infrastructure. This includes combining network resources such as spectrum and reducing redundant telecom towers—many of which are located close to each other. However, regulators have placed conditions to protect shared infrastructure and ensure fair treatment of other operators.
The PTA has also required that franchisees be given at least six months’ notice before any contracts are terminated. Existing Telenor SIMs will continue to function on Ufone’s network after the merger.
Once combined, the new entity will have over 70 million subscribers, making it one of the largest telecom operators in Pakistan. However, the total number may decline slightly, as users holding SIMs from both networks could shift to competitors like Jazz or Zong.
