Page 128 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Strategic Partnership with Engro Corp: Jazz Secures All Regulatory Approvals

Jazz has announced that it has secured
all regulatory approvals for its strategic
partnership with Engro Corporation
Limited for the pooling and management
of telecommunications infrastructure
assets in Pakistan. The partnership,
initially announced on December 5, 2024,
is expected to enhance the efficiency of
infrastructure and digital investments in
the country, in line with Pakistan’s digital
ambitions. Under the agreement, Jazz’s
infrastructure assets, managed through
its wholly owned subsidiary Deodar
(Private) Limited ("Deodar"), will vest into
Engro Connect through a court-sanctioned
scheme of arrangement. Regulatory
approvals have been obtained from the
Competition Commission of Pakistan model, while collaborating with Engro is a special moment for all of us at Engro,
(CCP), the Pakistan Telecommunication Corp, a trusted leader, for the infrastructure as this is what we have always stood
Authority (PTA), and the Islamabad High layer.” Abdul Samad Dawood, CEO of for: Enabling Growth." As this strategic
Court. Completion of the transaction is Engro Holdings, added: "Prosperity and partnership nears completion, Jazz will
expected in June 2025. Aamir Ibrahim, progress increasingly rely on technology continue to lease Deodar’s infrastructure
CEO of Jazz, commented: "I am pleased and connectivity – and with this milestone, under a long-term agreement, ensuring
to note that we are now progressing to Engro strengthens its role as an enabler uninterrupted nationwide connectivity
closing our pioneering infrastructure of Pakistan’s progress. This investment and service for its users. This milestone
partnership with Engro Corp. This marks reinforces telecom infrastructure as a key enables Jazz to fully focus on its ServiceCo
a significant milestone in our Service Co vertical for us and we are keen on expanding vision—scaling digital platforms like
transformation. We will continue delivering access, empowering communities, and JazzCash, Tamasha, SIMOSA, FikrFree,
world-class digital solutions empowering future-proofing the infrastructure that will Garaj, and GameNow that serve over 100
millions of Pakistanis in an asset-light drive growth for generations to come. This million Pakistanis.

Trump Pushes for 600MHz Spectrum Auctions in Legislation

US President Donald Trump took to his Telecommunications and Information sets the agenda and tells people what
social media site to strongly advocate for Administration to identify 600MHz of to do then things happen,” he explained.
pending legislation to auction off 600MHz spectrum for auction over two years. The “The spectrum pipeline is happening, and
of spectrum, which signaled a key element telecommunications industry has been auction authority is being restored and
of his telecommunications policy. “We clamoring for more spectrum ever since the for the benefit of all Americans.” Industry
must maintain our status as the worldwide FCC lost its authority to conduct auctions in association CTIA president and CEO Ajit
leader in Wi-Fi, 5G and 6G, connecting every 2023. Operators and industry heavyweights Pai urged congress to swiftly pass the bill.
American to the World’s BEST Networks, are advocating for the auction of more “The critical spectrum and tax provisions
while also keeping everyone safe”, full-licensed spectrum, arguing the US is in this legislation will allow the wireless
President Trump wrote yesterday (20 May) falling behind other countries. Senator industry to invest, create jobs, propel
on his Truth Social media platform. “We Marsha Blackburn posted on Facebook the economic growth, and secure America’s
can do both at the same time. Bottom line, spectrum auctions could raise $200 billion, edge in innovation,” stated Pai, who is the
I am going to free up plenty of SPECTRUM but Roger Entner, founder and analyst at former chair of the FCC during Trump’s
for auction, so Congress must put 600MHz Recon Analytics, told Mobile World Live the first administration. The 1,116-page bill
in “THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.” If amount remains to be seen. Entner stated is currently awaiting a final vote in the US
the bill passes congress and is signed by President Trump is also personally making House of Representatives before moving
President Trump, the spectrum auctions sure the Department of Defence is finding a to the Senate, but members of President
will require the Federal Communications way to vacate lightly used spectrum within Trump’s own political party are opposed to
Commission (FCC) and the National the next two years. “When the President some of the provisions.

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