IHC Clears Telenor Pakistan Merger with PTML, Creating Telecom Giant

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s telecommunications sector entered a new phase on Wednesday after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) legalised the merger of Telenor Pakistan with Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML), completing the country’s largest corporate merger in the telecom industry.

With the court’s final approval, Telenor Pakistan has officially ceased to exist as an independent legal entity. Its assets, operations, network infrastructure and customer base have now been merged into PTML, which operates under the Ufone 5G brand and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).

The merger concludes a lengthy regulatory and legal process that involved approvals from several government agencies, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Industry experts believe that the consolidation will significantly change the competitive landscape of Pakistan’s mobile communications sector while strengthening PTML’s market position.

According to the latest figures released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan had over 206 million mobile subscribers as of the end of May 2026. Jazz leads the market with 36.42 percent of subscribers, followed by Zong at second place with 26.62 percent. Post-merger, the combined Ufone-Telenor entity now holds about 35.91 percent of the country’s mobile subscribers, making it one of the largest telecom operators in Pakistan.

Despite the increase in market share, company officials admit that customer migration may occur during the merger process. A senior Ufone official indicated that about four million subscribers could switch to competing networks in the coming months as users adjust to the operational integration and SIM portability process.

The PTA had already given technical approval for the merger earlier this year, which could kick-start network integration in several major cities including Karachi, Hyderabad and Faisalabad. Both Ufone and Telenor customers are already using shared network infrastructure in these locations, resulting in improved coverage and more efficient spectrum usage.

The company clarified that while the network integration is ongoing, other technical processes – including billing system integration, balance management and migration of Telenor SIM cards – will be implemented gradually to ensure uninterrupted services and minimize inconvenience to customers.

In an official statement, Ufone assured subscribers that both existing Ufone and former Telenor customers will continue to receive uninterrupted mobile and digital services during the migration period. The company said that the merger will enable it to expand network capacity, strengthen spectrum resources and accelerate investment in next-generation mobile technologies and digital services across Pakistan.

PTCL ​​Group President and CEO Hatim Bamtraffic described the merger as a milestone for both the company and Pakistan’s telecommunications industry. He praised the Government of Pakistan, the Islamabad High Court, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other institutions whose regulatory support helped complete the transaction.

Bamtraff thanked the customers of both operators for their continued trust and acknowledged the efforts of the employees who worked throughout the merger process. He said that the unified company aims to provide better digital experiences, innovative products and improved connectivity while supporting Pakistan’s growing digital economy.

The legal merger follows the technical approval of the PTA in March 2026, after which the transaction was officially reported to the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Industry observers expect the combined operator to play a key role in increasing digital inclusion, improving network quality and preparing for the wider deployment of advanced mobile technologies in Pakistan.