It has been 31 years since the first mobile phone call took place in Turkey on February 23, 1994, when then Prime Minister Tansu Çiller called then President Süleyman Demirel. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu made a statement on the anniversary of the start of mobile phone networks in Turkey. Recalling the introduction of 1G technology through car phones in Turkey in 1986, Uraloğlu mentioned that 2G technology, which enabled voice calls, data transfer, and SMS messaging on mobile phones, started to be used in 1994. Uraloğlu reported that it has been 31 years since the first mobile phone call, which occurred when Prime Minister Çiller called President Demirel on February 23, 1994.

“THE NUMBER OF MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS APPROACHES 94.5 MILLION” With the increasing importance of data alongside voice, Uraloğlu reminded that Turkey switched to 3G in 2009 and, on April 1, 2016, gained new capabilities with the 4.5G technology that increased internet speed 10 times in mobile devices. Uraloğlu emphasized that during this period, Turkey and the world started using “mobile internet access technology,” which was developed to ensure uninterrupted communication everywhere, with a focus on “speed” and the importance of different services. Uraloğlu noted: “Since the start of internet usage in Turkey in 1993, broadband internet usage has rapidly increased. The number of broadband internet subscribers, which was 6 million in 2008, approached 96.4 million by the end of the third quarter of last year, while the total number of mobile subscribers approached 94.5 million from 65 million. While the necessary fiber investments continue for the healthy provision of 4.5G services, the total fiber length of operators reached 588,000 kilometers.”

Uraloğlu stated that with the new technology, the allocated frequency amount reserved for mobile network operators increased from 183 MHz to 549 MHz. He stated that Turkey is preparing to meet the 5G technology, which reaches speeds of up to 20 Gbps after 31 years.

“THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COMMUNICATION SPEED WITH 5G” Uraloğlu indicated that the end dates of the concession contracts and authorization documents for existing 2G, 3G, and 4.5G networks of operators in Turkey have been set as April 30, 2029. He commented: “With the new technology, uninterrupted and faster gaming can now be done over the internet. Internet speed varies depending on factors such as frequency, coverage area, base station, geographical conditions, network congestion, device, and the status of the internet site. We have accelerated our efforts to transition to 5G technology with domestic and national products in our country. This year, the auction will be held, and next year, the 5G technology, which will serve both our citizens and industry, will be launched, resulting in a significant increase in communication speed on devices connected to the internet.”