Islamabad, Apr 9, 2025: The long-anticipated consolidation of Telenor Pakistan with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is close to receiving the green light from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), although the approval will be conditional.
Much like the Jazz-Warid merger, regulators plan to impose updated terms to maintain fair competition within the telecom industry.
Sources reveal that the approval process was reinvigorated after PTCL sought assistance from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), urging the body to intervene and resolve ongoing delays.
The merger proposal had been under review for nearly a year due to incomplete submissions and inadequate replies to detailed inquiries raised by the CCP.
According to officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, PTCL was also unable to provide satisfactory answers to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which had issued several warnings concerning PTCL’s significant control in the market. These objections have further complicated the merger’s progress.
In the second phase of scrutiny, the CCP reached out to the PTA to gather additional data.
The intent was to verify that the proposed acquisition would not hinder market dynamics or amplify PTCL’s dominance unfairly.
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Ensuring a balanced competitive landscape remains a top priority for the authorities.
Another hurdle is the unresolved matter of outstanding dues amounting to $800 million.
Although there had been a prior commitment to release $640 million as part of a settlement, this issue still hangs in the balance, adding another layer of complexity to the merger process.
As regulatory bodies proceed cautiously, the telecom sector watches closely.
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Experts expect a final verdict soon, which could reshape Pakistan’s telecom industry for years to come.
However, the CCP actively safeguards consumer interests and ensures that no single player holds an excessive advantage in the evolving digital ecosystem.
If approved with the right safeguards, the PTCL-Telenor merger could pave the way for enhanced connectivity, wider coverage, and better service for millions of users across the country.
