Ufone Rebranding to e& Awaits Government Approval

The proposed rebranding of cellular operator Ufone to UAE-based telecom group e& is awaiting government approval following the company’s merger with Telenor Pakistan.

 

The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom was informed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been stopped from approving the proposed name change. PTA Chairman retired Maj Gen Hafeezur Rehman said the Privatisation Commission had directed the regulator that the rebranding could only proceed with approval from the governments of Pakistan and the UAE.

 

Ufone’s management had approached the PTA to change the company’s brand identity to e& following the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan by PTCL, which is owned by e&.

 

IT Secretary Zarar Hasham Khan told the committee that Pakistan Telecommunication Mobile Limited (PTML) had formally sought permission from the PTA for the proposed name change. He said the issue remained under discussion, with differing positions emerging between the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and the telecom regulator.

 

The committee was informed that any change in the company’s name would have to comply with applicable laws and regulations and receive the required federal government approvals.

 

The PTA chairman also addressed concerns over connectivity problems reported in several parts of the country. He linked the issues mainly to the integration of Ufone and Telenor’s networks and the ongoing rollout of 5G services.

 

He assured lawmakers that the connectivity situation was expected to improve by next month as the merger and network transition progressed.

 

The committee also expressed concern over Pak Datacom’s decision to move its satellite-based connectivity services from Pakistan’s PakSat system to UAE-based Yahsat. Members warned that shifting critical connectivity infrastructure to a foreign satellite system could raise national security concerns.

 

Separately, the committee deferred consideration of Starlink’s licensing matter. The PTA told lawmakers that no licence application was currently pending before the regulator and that the issue remained subject to clearances from other government departments.