The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has approved the merger of Pak Telecom Mobile Limited and Telenor Pakistan, a significant development in the telecommunications sector of Pakistan. This merger, finalized on March 19, 2026, will create a combined customer base of approximately 72 million subscribers, positioning the new entity as the second-largest mobile operator in the country.

Currently, Jazz leads the market with 74 million monthly mobile subscribers, followed by Zong with 54 million. Prior to the merger, Telenor had 43 million subscribers, while Ufone had 29 million. The consolidation of these two companies is expected to enhance competition in the market.

The merger follows the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) for NOK5.3 billion, equivalent to about US$547 million. This transaction was completed in December 2025 after receiving multiple regulatory approvals.

As part of the merger process, the newly formed entity will operate around 26,000 towers, with many located in close proximity to one another. The integration process is anticipated to take up to four weeks for legal verification, and regulators have imposed conditions to ensure that towers shared with other operators cannot be shut down without prior approval.

The no-objection certificate issued by the PTA allows Ufone to commence integration with Telenor Pakistan. The merger is subject to the fulfillment of standard conditions, including obtaining unconditional approvals within the next 15 days.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific strategies that the merged entity will adopt to compete with Jazz and Zong. However, the combined resources and subscriber base are expected to create a more formidable competitor in the Pakistani telecom landscape.

Overall, this merger marks a pivotal moment for the telecommunications industry in Pakistan, potentially reshaping market dynamics and consumer choices in the coming years.