ISLAMABAD: In a bold move that’s set to change Pakistan’s telecom industry, Jazz, Pakistan’s largest mobile network has become the first telecom company in the country to sell all of its 10,500 cell towers to a dedicated tower company.
The towers were part of Jazz’s own infrastructure, but from now on, Jazz will rent space on these towers instead of owning them. This major shift makes Jazz a more flexible, tech-focused company, ready to lead in Pakistan’s growing digital economy.
The deal, worth a whopping $550 million, was recently approved by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). Jazz sold its tower management company Deodar to Engro Connect, a part of Engro Corporation.
Jazz currently uses about 14,500 towers in total. The remaining 4,000 are already managed by other independent tower companies like Engro Enfrashare, Edotco, and the new Saudi-backed player TAWAL Pakistan.
According to industry insiders, telecom companies started building towers around 20 years ago when there was no shared infrastructure. Back then, having more towers meant better coverage and more customers.
But now, things are changing.
Tower companies (also called TowerCos) are becoming popular worldwide. These companies specialize in managing the heavy lifting like paying taxes, running generators, securing the sites, and handling power supply. This means telecom companies like Jazz can now focus on what really matters: providing better services to customers.
One tower, many networks: That’s the TowerCo model. Multiple mobile networks can install their equipment on the same tower saving money, reducing duplication, and improving coverage faster.
Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim called the deal a step towards a “digital-first future.” He said Jazz will now focus on becoming a full digital services company offering mobile banking, cloud services, streaming entertainment, and digital healthcare.
Currently, Pakistan has about 50,000 telecom towers. Experts believe other telecom operators might also follow Jazz’s path. This could lead to more towers in underserved areas, especially villages and remote towns that still lack reliable mobile service.
However, a senior official at the Ministry of IT said Telenor and Ufone are unlikely to take similar steps soon, as their possible merger is still under review and many key decisions are on hold.
Telecom towers are not just for mobile networks anymore. Fibre and internet companies are also using them to lay cables and connect more people, turning these towers into important hubs for digital connectivity across the country.
