5G Launch Could Get Delayed If CCP Doesn’t Approve PTCL-Telenor Merger

The government’s timeline for launching 5G services by April 2025 could get delayed even more if the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) doesn’t timely decide on the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). The unresolved status of Telenor and litigation over the required spectrum are impeding progress, reported a national daily. Consultancy firm National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA) has flagged concerns over the unresolved issues. NERA has informed authorities to finalize the number of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs), including decisions linked to the Telenor-PTCL merger. Moreover, 140 MHz of the 2.6 GHz band—vital for 4G and 5G services—remains under litigation, leaving only 54 MHz available. This bandwidth is insufficient for even a single operator. NERA was contracted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in November 2024 to provide recommendations for the IMT spectrum release. However, unresolved issues including the CCP’s indecision on the merger and the spectrum litigation may delay the consultancy’s report. After the CCP’s decision, the case will require approvals from other regulatory bodies including the PTA, SECP, and SBP. Subsequent steps, including cabinet approval, publishing auction guidelines, and operator preparations, could take several more months. While earlier governments targeted 5G spectrum auctions by March 2023, current challenges threaten to push the first 5G rollout beyond April 2025.