The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has delayed the announcement of its decision on the proposed merger between Ufone and Telenor Pakistan until next week, as officials remain engaged in the ongoing spectrum auction process, sources revealed.
The regulator had earlier planned to announce its decision on Wednesday after completing all regulatory formalities. However, the announcement has now been postponed as key officials are occupied with the auction proceedings.
Under procedural requirements, PTCL’s management must meet the PTA’s merger authority before the final decision is made public. Following the meeting, the regulator is expected to issue the official minutes on the same day.
Sources said that once the meeting between PTA officials and PTCL management takes place and the minutes are formally recorded, the authority will announce its final decision regarding the Ufone–Telenor merger.
The proposed transaction has been under regulatory review for several months and is considered a major consolidation move in Pakistan’s telecom sector. If approved, the deal would combine the operations of Ufone and Telenor Pakistan, potentially reshaping competition in the country’s mobile telecommunications market.
Industry analysts believe the merger could strengthen the financial and operational position of the combined entity, enabling greater network investment, expanded coverage, and improved service quality for subscribers. Pakistan’s telecom market currently operates with four major mobile network operators.
Approval of the merger would effectively reduce the number of operators to three, a development that regulators have been examining closely in terms of market competition, spectrum concentration, and consumer impact.
Officials said the PTA has already completed the required technical, legal, and competition assessments under the regulatory framework governing mergers and acquisitions in the telecom sector. The authority is now expected to formally communicate its decision sometime next week.
