Istanbul set to become global net node

ISTANBUL - Radikal

Turkish Transportation, Maritime and Communications Minister Binali Yıldırım speaks during an opening of a factory in Ankara on April 12. AA photo

The management of the world’s Internet has been divided into three regions, Turkey’s transportation and communication minister has said, noting that Istanbul will be the center for the Africa, Europe and Central Asia region.

“Turkey is becoming one of the intersection points for both the Internet and communication,” Turkish Transportation, Maritime and Communication Minister Binali Yıldırım said April 11 during the closing dinner of the 16th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul.

As part of efforts to become less U.S.-centric, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which is base in Los Angeles, is looking to set up two new hubs in Singapore and Istanbul to serve global markets

“The division of Internet management into three regional centers emerged due to controversies about the United States’ dominance in Internet management through the concentration of technology giants in Los Angeles,” the minister said.

The minister said the decision to be announced next month will elevate Turkey’s regional position in terms of communication. He noted there are approximately 60 million Internet users in Turkey.