PTML has taken the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to court over its order to suspend the commercial operations of ONIC, the operator’s digital brand. The case will decide whether ONIC must be licensed separately as a mobile virtual network operator, or can keep running under PTML’s existing mobile licence.
What PTA Ordered
- PTA issued a determination signed on September 11, 2026, ordering the immediate suspension of ONIC’s commercial operations, including new SIM and eSIM sales, activations, and marketing.
- PTA ruled that ONIC falls under the MVNO framework and needs separate regulatory authorisation, with separate CRM and billing systems, digital platforms, and marketing handled by DTMS, which would take 55% of the relevant revenue in the first three years.
- PTA gave PTML three months to migrate existing ONIC subscribers to PTML, a window running roughly to mid-December 2026, and asked for a compliance report within seven working days of receiving the order.
PTML’s Position
- PTML maintains ONIC is its digital brand operating under its existing MNO licence.
- ONIC uses PTML’s network, spectrum, and 0339 numbering, and PTML argues it does not need a separate authorisation.
What It Means for ONIC Users
- Existing ONIC subscribers keep their service during the migration period; the order targets new sales and activations, not current users.
- As of early October 2026, no court stay had been confirmed either way, so the legal battle will decide the brand’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PTA order ONIC’s suspension?
PTA ruled that ONIC falls under the MVNO framework and needs its own regulatory authorisation, including separate CRM/billing and marketing handled by DTMS.
What is PTML arguing in court?
PTML says ONIC is simply its digital brand operating under its existing mobile network licence, using its network, spectrum, and 0339 numbering.
Is ONIC shutting down?
Not immediately. Existing users keep their service while PTML gets three months, roughly to mid-December 2026, to migrate subscribers.
Can I still buy an ONIC SIM?
PTA’s order suspends new SIM and eSIM sales, activations, and marketing, pending the court’s decision.
What is DTMS and the 55% revenue condition?
Under PTA’s ruling, DTMS would handle ONIC’s marketing and take 55% of the relevant revenue in the first three years as part of the separate MVNO authorisation.
Conclusion
The ONIC dispute is now in the courts, and the outcome will set a precedent for how digital telecom brands are regulated in Pakistan. For now, existing ONIC users remain connected, and the next few weeks will determine whether the brand survives in its current form.