PTCL has formally commenced a five-to-six-month fast-track process to acquire Telenor Pakistan after obtaining the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s approval, signaling a major restructuring in the country’s telecom landscape. This move brings Pakistan’s long-delayed telecom consolidation into sharper focus and sets the stage for the next-generation 5G rollout. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited now moves closer to taking operational control of Telenor Pakistan, positioning itself as one of the most dominant telecom groups in the market.
Following the receipt of the No Objection Certificate from PTA for the change in ownership, PTCL will now approach the State Bank of Pakistan to meet foreign exchange and legal formalities associated with the multibillion-rupee transaction. Industry insiders expect the SBP to grant clearance soon, after which the acquisition is anticipated to close formally in January, allowing PTCL to assume operational control. The subsequent merger approval will require a second regulatory review by PTA and will eventually proceed to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan for corporate ratification, a process expected to conclude within five to six months.
Telecom officials indicate that this consolidation clears a major hurdle for 5G deployment in Pakistan. With PTCL already managing Ufone and soon Telenor Pakistan, the merged entity will have enhanced visibility over spectrum allocations, network infrastructure, and financial bandwidth, which are critical to accelerating the adoption of next-generation mobile services. Analysts suggest the merger will enable the new PTCL group to rationalize network operations, optimize spectrum usage, and strengthen competitiveness in anticipation of upcoming 5G spectrum auctions.
Telenor Asia issued a statement welcoming PTA’s approval, emphasizing that the decision reflects regulatory commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s telecom sector. The company confirmed that Telenor Pakistan will continue its operations uninterrupted during the transition, maintaining services across the country alongside its partners and vendors. Industry observers note that the merger is likely to reshape market dynamics by consolidating two major operators, potentially improving network efficiency through shared infrastructure and accelerating technological upgrades. The PTCL-Telenor combination is expected to emerge as a spectrum-rich, market-ready entity, reinforcing Pakistan’s telecom sector while paving the way for faster 5G adoption and a more competitive digital ecosystem.
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