In what officials call a groundbreaking move for Pakistan’s telecom industry, Engro Connect has finalized a $560 million acquisition of all 10,500 telecom towers previously owned and operated by Jazz, according to the Daily Times. This marks the first time a telecom operator in Pakistan has divested its entire tower infrastructure.
The transaction was completed following approvals from regulatory authorities, including the Competition Commission of Pakistan, and the resolution of all related court cases in the Islamabad High Court.
As part of the agreement, Jazz, one of the country’s largest MNOs, will now lease space on the towers from Engro Connect, a subsidiary of Engro Corporation. This shift, according to Jazz, allows it to channel its focus into expanding digital services, including fintech, cloud computing, entertainment, and digital health solutions.
Pakistan currently hosts about 50,000 telecom towers, many managed by companies such as Engro Infra and Advotco. The tower-sharing model, widely adopted across global markets, enables multiple operators to use a single tower, enhancing infrastructure efficiency and reducing operational costs.
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