- Received approval brings PTCL a step closer to finalising its purchase of Telenor Pakistan, valued at roughly US$500 million.
- The acquisition, once complete, could hasten Pakistan’s 5G rollout and trigger major network consolidation between leading operators.
What happened: PTA approves PTCL takeover of Telenor
On 6 December 2025, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority granted its formal approval to PTCL’s acquisition of Telenor Pakistan. This marks the final major regulatory hurdle cleared since the deal was first announced in December 2023. The purchase values Telenor Pakistan at 5.3 billion Norwegian kroner — about US$500 million — and covers repayment of intercompany loans plus a reduction of interest-bearing liabilities.
Previously, the country’s competition regulator had greenlit the merger under strict conditions: PTCL must maintain separate management and accounting structures for its existing operations and the newly acquired mobile business. The PTA’s NOC means PTCL can now move forward with the formal takeover, followed by a merger process expected to conclude within a few months.
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Why it’s important
For Pakistan’s telecom industry, the acquisition could significantly accelerate the launch of 5G services. PTCL, which already owns fixed-line and broadband infrastructure, will inherit Telenor’s 42 million mobile subscribers — about 27 million of whom are on 4G. Consolidating services under PTCL may streamline spectrum allocation and capitalise on synergies to upgrade legacy networks.
The consolidation also signals a shift towards fewer, larger operators. With PTCL absorbing Telenor and already owning mobile operator Ufone, the number of major independent players may shrink — potentially pushing prices and competition dynamics in a new direction.
For consumers, the deal could bring both benefits and risks: better network coverage, faster 5G deployment, and bundled services, but also concerns about reduced competition and fewer choices. For the broader regional telecom market, the transaction is a bellwether for how operator scale and consolidation may unlock growth — especially for emerging economies seeking to fund costly 5G infrastructure rollout.
