Govt Asks CCP to Review Telenor-PTCL Merger Ahead of Spectrum Auction
On February 14, State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, informed the National Assembly that the government had approached the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to review the merger of Telenor Pakistan with PTCL ahead of the upcoming spectrum auction.
Khawaja added that the CPP was conducting a “comprehensive review,” and the government has urged the commission to expedite its decision to help stakeholders plan effectively. The spectrum auction is expected to take place by mid-2025.
Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Saad Waseem Sheikh, informed the House that PTCL had submitted a pre-merger application to the CCP for approval to acquire 100% shareholding of Telenor Pakistan. He noted that the CCP had completed Phase I of its review, raising concerns about reduced competition in the market.
Entering Phase II, there were challenges in assessing market dominance, increased market concentration, and risks related to competition as well as in gathering required financial data, particularly regarding PTCL’s transactions with Ufone.
The commission is considering regulatory interventions, including fair spectrum allocation, to prevent PTCL from gaining an unfair advantage following the merger.
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