PTA likely to announce decision on Ufone-Telenor merger on Wednesday

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is expected to announce its decision on the proposed merger between Ufone 4G and Telenor Pakistan on Wednesday after completing key regulatory formalities, sources told Business Recorder.

Officials familiar with the development said the authority had initially planned to announce its decision on Monday.

However, the announcement was delayed due to the unavailability of Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Ufone 4G, who was required to attend a meeting under the merger review process.

Under procedural requirements, PTCL management is scheduled to meet the PTA’s merger authority before the final decision is made public. Sources said minutes of the meeting will be issued the same day following discussions between the regulator and PTCL officials.

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Once the meeting concludes and the minutes are formally recorded, the PTA is expected to announce its final verdict on the proposed merger of Ufone 4G and Telenor Pakistan.

The deal has been under regulatory review for several months and is widely viewed as a major consolidation move in Pakistan’s telecom sector.

If approved, the transaction would combine the operations of Ufone and Telenor Pakistan, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of the country’s mobile telecommunications industry.

Industry analysts believe the merger could strengthen the financial and operational position of the combined entity, enabling increased investment in network infrastructure, wider coverage and improved service quality for subscribers.

Pakistan’s telecom market currently operates with four major mobile network operators.

Approval of the Ufone-Telenor merger would reduce the number of operators to three, a development regulators have been examining closely in terms of market competition, spectrum distribution and consumer impact.

Officials said the PTA has already completed technical, legal and competition-related assessments required under the regulatory framework governing mergers and acquisitions in the telecom sector.

With the remaining procedural meeting expected this week, the authority is likely to formally communicate its decision on Wednesday.