In a strategic move poised to reshape Pakistan’s telecommunications landscape, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is eagerly awaiting regulatory approvals for its acquisition of Telenor Pakistan. This acquisition is expected to bolster PTCL’s market position and enable significant investments in new technologies and infrastructure, ultimately enhancing services for consumers.
Speaking at GITEX in Dubai, PTCL’s President and Group CEO, Hatem Bamatraf, emphasized that the decision to acquire Telenor Pakistan was made after careful consideration of its potential benefits for both PTCL and the broader telecom industry in Pakistan. “We believe it’s a great step, not only for PTCL but actually for the entire telecom market and Pakistan,” Bamatraf stated.
Bamatraf highlighted the global trend of in-market consolidations, particularly in emerging markets where purchasing power differs from that of advanced economies. “There are so many advanced markets out there that have three or even two players. So you can imagine an emerging market like Pakistan, where the purchasing power is not similar to other advanced economies, the consolidation becomes even more essential to have customer-centric players,” he explained.
Following the acquisition, PTCL aims to create a more focused entity capable of investing in cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure. “After the acquisition, the people of Pakistan should expect a level of experience and access to technology that they have never seen before. This is our promise and this is our commitment,” Bamatraf assured.
He further elaborated on the broader impact of the acquisition, stating that it would elevate the level of competition in the market, ultimately benefiting consumers. “This will result in a situation that will improve and elevate the level of competition, and it will finally reflect back to the consumers of the Pakistani telecom market,” he said.
Beyond enhancing telecom services, PTCL envisions playing a pivotal role in Pakistan’s digital transformation. “We believe that the telco today is an enabler of digital transformation and digital economy for so many countries, and Pakistan is no different,” Bamatraf noted. He emphasized that the government’s strategic focus on the digital economy aligns with PTCL’s objectives. “The government of Pakistan has announced time and time again that their focus is the digital economy, and they want to put Pakistan on the map of digital transformation and digital economy,” he added.
Bamatraf stressed PTCL’s commitment to being an enabler and a vehicle to fulfill the country’s digital aspirations. “We are playing our part as a telco, or technology player as we prefer to refer to ourselves, to be an enabler and become the vehicle to fulfill the desire of the country and the government to achieve the digital goals,” he said.
The acquisition is anticipated to bring significant value not only to customers but also to the economy and the overall progress of the nation. “The integration of Telenor will actually result in significant value contribution to the customer, the economy, and the overall progress of the nation,” Bamatraf emphasized.
Addressing potential concerns among employees regarding the acquisition, Bamatraf underscored the importance of open communication and employee engagement. “I am a believer that the essential ingredient of any success of any organization is the people behind the organization,” he stated. “You need to continuously communicate and update the employees. You need to create an environment of openness where people feel secure to share their ideas, where people don’t feel threatened and scared to suggest solutions or express their opinion.”
To foster this environment, PTCL has implemented various initiatives, including regular town halls and casual meetings with employee groups. “I have regular town halls with the people. I also meet with groups of people frequently on a casual basis,” Bamatraf shared. “We have different sorts of forums—that are mainly for the operations and management of the business—but I take the opportunity to keep people posted about the strategy and developments of the market through such forums.”
With the integration of Telenor Pakistan, PTCL acknowledges that communication with employees becomes even more crucial. “The integration of Telenor will also raise a lot of concerns among the people, and that’s why it has become more important for us to communicate with people on a regular basis,” he noted.
