PTA orders PTML to suspend new ONIC SIM, eSIM issuance and subscriptions

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has instructed Pakistan Telecommunication Mobile Limited (PTML), the parent company of Ufone, to cease issuing new ONIC SIMs and eSIMs, activating new connections, accepting new subscriptions, and engaging in related marketing and commercial activities. This directive follows a three-year notice issued to Ufone's management.

After successfully challenging the legal order in court, the PTA issued the suspension order on September 11, 2026. PTML, which is a subsidiary of state-owned Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), has recently completed its merger with Telenor Pakistan. The company's board, indicative of the state's significant influence, includes the federal secretary for IT and several government officials, along with a PML-N MNA.

ONIC, distinct in branding, packages, a dedicated mobile app, billing and customer management systems, and direct customer operations, operates as if it were a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). According to a senior PTA official, existing ONIC customers must be transitioned to PTML within three months, or PTML could obtain an MVNO license from the PTA to continue operating ONIC independently.

The PTA requires the company to submit a compliance report within seven working days, detailing the cessation of the ordered activities and the steps taken to comply.

Ufone/Telenor Pakistan, the newly formed entity following the merger, assured customers in a statement that their services would remain uninterrupted. They expressed commitment to serving customers and maintaining high connectivity, service, and support standards, emphasizing their dedication to customer trust and confidence. The amalgamation of Telenor Pakistan into PTML was finalized by the Islamabad High Court in June.