PTCL returns to profit and eyes 5G launch in May
By Tanveer Ahmed :
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited has reported a return to profitability after more than four years, as the telecom group prepares to roll out 5G services as early as next month.
Announcing financial results for the first quarter of 2026, the group’s chief executive Hatem Bamatraf said revenues rose by 58% compared with the same period last year, reflecting improved performance across key segments.
The company posted a net profit of Rs3.1bn for January to March, reversing a loss of Rs4bn recorded in the first quarter of 2025. Operating profit also increased sharply, supported by the consolidation of Telenor Pakistan into the group’s financial results.
Mr Bamatraf said the integration had contributed to growth in fixed broadband, enterprise services, wholesale operations and mobile business, marking what he described as a shift towards sustainable expansion.
He added that the merger between Ufone and Telenor Pakistan, once completed, would improve service quality for customers.
The company also confirmed plans to launch 5G services in May, subject to obtaining a commercial licence from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
Separately, the group’s chief financial officer Nadeem Khan said external factors, including rising fuel costs and interest rates linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions, could affect performance in the coming months. He noted that the scale of the impact would depend on how the situation develops, but said contingency measures were in place.
Meanwhile, the group’s banking subsidiary, U Bank, reported revenues of Rs5.8bn, alongside an improvement in profitability, indicating recovery in its financial operations.
The results suggest a turnaround for the PTCL Group as it positions itself for the next phase of growth, driven by network expansion and the anticipated introduction of 5G technology.
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