Telenor Pakistan, Ufone formally merge after IHC approval

ISLAMABAD: Telenor Pakistan has been formally amalgamated into Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML) from Wednesday, as final statutory approval has been granted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Telenor Pakistan has ceased to exist as a separate legal entity, and the amalgamation marks the completion of one of the most significant transactions in the country’s telecommunications history.

The merged telecom company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of PTCL and will operate as PTML.

Data released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) shows that by the end of May 2026, there were more than 206 million mobile subscribers, with Jazz remaining the largest telecom operator with 36.42pc of the total mobile subscriber base, followed by Zong with 26.62pc.

The combined share of the merged entity now stands at 35.91pc.

However, a senior executive of Ufone said that around 4m out of approximately 74m total subscribers of the merged telecom company could leave the network in the coming months.

“This is because subscribers of both Telenor and Ufone are likely to switch their SIMs to other networks soon as the operations of the two companies are fully merged.”

Meanwhile, since the PTA has already granted technical approval for the merger, Ufone has begun integrating the frequencies of both companies, and subscribers of both Telenor and Ufone are now operating on the same network in Karachi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad and some other cities.

“However, the integration of the billing mechanism, loading of balance, and migration of Telenor SIMs, etc., will commence at a later stage,” the official added.

In a statement, Ufone said it has promised continuity of service for both Ufone and Telenor customers during the integration process, along with access to improved connectivity and digital experience.

The company said that with this development, Telenor Pakistan’s operations, network infrastructure and customer base will be fully integrated into PTML (Ufone 5G), creating a combined entity with expanded reach, a stronger spectrum portfolio and greater capacity to invest in next-generation connectivity and digital services across the country.

President & CEO PTCL Hatem Bamatraf said: “This is a defining moment for our company and for Pakistan’s telecom industry. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Pakistan and to every institution involved in this process for their diligence and support throughout this journey.”

Bamatraf felicitated the customers for their trust in both Ufone and Telenor and praised the employees for their dedication and hard work.

“As we come together as one company, our ambition is to bring our customers cutting-edge products and services that set a new benchmark for digital experience in Pakistan,” he added.

Earlier in March, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) granted technical approval for the merger of Telenor Pakistan and Ufone, and the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) was informed of the development. ...