In the 21st century, telecommunications infrastructure has emerged as the fundamental backbone of digitally advanced economies, serving as a critical conduit for connectivity that drives industrial functionality and national economic progress. Over the past two decades, this infrastructure has been a pivotal catalyst for economic growth, yet in recent years, the telecom sector has encountered a complex array of challenges that have significantly tested its resilience and potential for expansion.
The industry’s evolution has been marked by strategic transformations prompted by escalating market pressures. While some operators responded with extreme measures—such as Telenor’s market exit—others adopted more nuanced approaches like divesting non-core assets to enhance operational efficiency. Jazz exemplifies the latter strategy, pursuing multiple tower sale agreements to streamline its operations. Its recent deal with Engro Connect represents its third attempt at infrastructure divestment, following unsuccessful negotiations with Edotco and the TPL-TASC consortium.
Profit aims to unravel the strategic motivations behind Jazz’s persistent efforts to shed its passive infrastructure, exploring the underlying rationale for selling Deodar and its tower portfolio, and illuminating the broader implications for Pakistan’s telecommunications landscape. The content in this publication is expensive to produce. But unlike other journalistic outfits, business publications have to cover the very organizations that directly give them advertisements. Hence, this large source of revenue, which is the lifeblood of other media houses, is severely compromised on account of Profit’s no-compromise policy when it comes to our reporting. No wonder, Profit has lost multiple ad deals, worth tens of millions of rupees, due to stories that held big businesses to account. Hence, for our work to continue unfettered, it must be supported by discerning readers who know the value of quality business journalism, not just for the economy but for the society as a whole.To read the full article, subscribe and support independent business journalism in Pakistan
