The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has granted conditional approval to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited for its acquisition of Telenor Pakistan, marking a major breakthrough in one of the country’s most closely watched telecom deals. The decision follows PTCL’s formal and unconditional acceptance of the regulatory conditions attached to the merger-and-acquisition process.
Officials confirmed that PTA had requested written confirmation on whether PTCL would comply with all conditions related to service continuity, consumer protection, network integration, and post-merger compliance. PTCL’s affirmative response has cleared a critical regulatory hurdle that has delayed progress for months.
The move now opens the path for final regulatory processing of the multi-billion-rupee transaction, which is expected to reshape Pakistan’s telecom landscape and influence competitive dynamics ahead of the next spectrum auction. The Competition Commission of Pakistan has already approved PTCL’s acquisition of Telenor Pakistan as well as Orion Towers, further accelerating the deal’s trajectory.
Industry observers say that once all approvals are secured, the acquisition will strengthen PTCL Group’s position as Pakistan’s second-largest telecom operator. The deal also marks the end of Telenor’s nearly 20-year presence in the country’s telecom sector.
With PTCL’s unconditional acceptance on record, the merger process is expected to move swiftly through the remaining procedural stages toward completion.
