Pakistan’s telecommunications industry entered a new chapter on Wednesday as Telenor Pakistan officially became part of Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML) following the long-awaited merger by the Islamabad High Court. The development ends Telenor Pakistan’s independent corporate identity and makes it one of the largest mobile network operators in the country.
The legal approval marks the completion of a multi-stage process that includes regulatory clearances from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other relevant bodies. Under the new structure, PTML — operating under the Ufone brand and wholly owned by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) — has assumed control of Telenor Pakistan’s operations, network assets, spectrum and subscriber base.
The merger is expected to significantly reshape competition in Pakistan’s telecom market, where over 206 million mobile subscribers were registered by the end of May 2026. According to PTA data, Jazz leads the market with a 36.42 percent subscriber share, followed by Zong at 26.62 percent. The combined Ufone-Telenor operator now has about 35.91 per cent of the market, making it one of the largest telecom service providers in the country.
Industry analysts believe that the merger has the potential to improve network performance and strengthen digital infrastructure by combining spectrum resources, expanding coverage and reducing duplication of network assets. At the same time, they note that careful management will be required to maintain customer confidence during the transition process.
A senior company official said that about 4 million subscribers may choose to switch competing operators in the coming months as technical integration is underway. The official explained that the merger is expected to have long-term benefits, with some customers likely to switch networks during the SIM porting and system integration phase.
Following the technical approval granted by the PTA earlier this year, Ufone has already started integrating Telenor’s network infrastructure in several major cities, including Karachi, Hyderabad and Faisalabad. Customers of both operators are now being served through a unified network in these areas, allowing the company to improve spectrum utilisation and enhance service quality.
The company clarified that additional integration work, including the migration of billing systems, customer account migration, recharge services and Telenor SIM management, will be completed in a phased manner. It assured customers that mobile services will continue to operate during the migration and every effort will be made to avoid service disruptions.
In an official statement, Ufone said that the merger will create a stronger telecommunications platform capable of providing faster connectivity, wider network coverage and better digital services. The company added that combining the strengths of both operators will also help in future investments in advanced technologies and help meet Pakistan’s growing demand for reliable mobile internet and digital solutions.
PTCL Group President and CEO Hatim Bamtraff described the completion of the merger as a significant milestone for the company and the national telecom sector. He thanked the Government of Pakistan, the Islamabad High Court, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and all stakeholders for facilitating the successful completion of the transaction.
Bamtraff also appreciated the loyalty of customers and the commitment shown by employees throughout the merger process. He said that the unified company aims to introduce innovative products, provide a better digital experience and contribute to Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation.
The merger took place following the technical approval of the PTA issued in March 2026, after which the Pakistan Stock Exchange was formally notified. Industry experts say the consolidation could accelerate investment in next-generation mobile technologies, strengthening competition in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.
