Web Desk: Telenor Pakistan officially merged with Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML) on Wednesday after receiving final approval from the Islamabad High Court, completing one of the largest consolidations in Pakistan’s telecommunications sector.
The merger dissolves Telenor Pakistan as a separate legal entity and brings its operations, customers and network under PTML, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), which operates under the Ufone brand.
The consolidation significantly alters Pakistan’s mobile telecommunications landscape, where more than 206 million subscribers were registered by the end of May, according to data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Jazz remains the country’s largest mobile operator with a 36.42% market share, while the newly merged PTML entity now holds 35.91%, making it a close competitor. Zong ranks third with a 26.62% share.
Industry analysts say the merger creates a stronger competitor with greater spectrum resources and an expanded customer base, positioning the company to invest more heavily in next-generation mobile and digital services.
Despite the expanded footprint, company officials expect some customer losses during the integration process.
A senior Ufone executive said as many as 4 million subscribers from the combined customer base of roughly 74 million could switch to rival networks over the coming months as both operators complete the merger of their services.
The official said customers from both Telenor and Ufone may choose to change providers during the transition, although the company aims to minimize disruption.
Following the PTA’s technical approval in March, Ufone has already begun integrating the spectrum and network infrastructure of both companies.
Subscribers in Karachi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad and several other cities are now using the combined network.
However, the company said additional integration work—including billing systems, balance management and the migration of Telenor SIM cards—will be completed in later phases.
Ufone assured customers that services would remain uninterrupted throughout the transition while promising improved network performance and an enhanced digital experience.
In a statement, PTML said the merger combines Telenor Pakistan’s operations, infrastructure and subscriber base with Ufone’s existing network, creating a larger operator with broader nationwide coverage and increased capacity to expand digital services.
PTCL Group President and Chief Executive Officer Hatem Bamatraf described the merger as a milestone for both the company and Pakistan’s telecommunications industry.
He thanked the government and regulatory authorities for supporting the approval process and expressed appreciation to customers and employees for their continued confidence throughout the transition.
“As we come together as one company, our ambition is to deliver cutting-edge products and services that establish a new benchmark for digital experience in Pakistan,” Bamatraf said.
The merger received technical clearance from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in March before securing final legal approval from the Islamabad High Court, bringing the multi-stage transaction to completion.
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