Turkish firms want more infrastructure after advanced 4G launch
ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency
AA photo
A communications association in Turkey warned on April 4 about the need for an extra 450,000 kilometers of new substructure investment in the country to fully realize the potential of the advanced 4G technologies, dubbed 4.5G, which became operation on April 1.
Speaking to reporters, the head of the Istanbul-based Turkish Mobile Service Provider Businessmen’s Association (MOBILSIAD), Kerem Alkin, presented a report on a proposed national broadband plan.
“A new life has started [for Turkey] after getting 4.5G,” Alkin said, adding the 77-million-strong country’s national broadband plan should include three strategic targets.
He said one of these targets would be bringing into use the availability of 100Mbit access speeds starting from 30Mbit in every part of the country.
Alkin also said that fiber infrastructure should reach 450,000 kilometers in the country and the copper cable-based broadband infrastructure - which is worn out - should be made from fiber cables.
The MOBILSIAD head added the national broadband plan should be prepared with broad industry participation from all parties, adding that around 13 countries have already prepared such a strategic plan.
According to the Turkish Competitive Telco Operators’ Association (TELKODER), Turkey has already established just over 250,000 kilometers of fiber infrastructure as of the first quarter of 2015.
Türk Telekom, a telecommunication company, already owns nearly 200,000 kilometers of infrastructure.
Founded in 2009, MOBILSIAD has 24 members and consists of representatives of the value-added mobile services sector, mainly software companies.
Three mobile operators, Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom, won the rights to the country’s advanced 4.5G network after paying more than 3.9 billion euros ($4.5 billion) in a tender held by Turkish information and communication authority BTK last August.
According to the BTK, 4.5G technology will offer consumers the ability to use new technologies and provide faster browsing, downloads and uploads.
The total spectrum available will be increased by three times. The rights to the frequencies will last until April 30, 2029.
According to ministry figures released in 2015, the number of 3G subscribers had reached 61.1 million in Turkey.
The figures show that the number of cellphone subscribers reached 72 million while the number of broadband Internet subscribers had increased to over 44 million in the second quarter of 2015 from just six million in 2008.
Speaking to reporters, the head of the Istanbul-based Turkish Mobile Service Provider Businessmen’s Association (MOBILSIAD), Kerem Alkin, presented a report on a proposed national broadband plan.
“A new life has started [for Turkey] after getting 4.5G,” Alkin said, adding the 77-million-strong country’s national broadband plan should include three strategic targets.
He said one of these targets would be bringing into use the availability of 100Mbit access speeds starting from 30Mbit in every part of the country.
Alkin also said that fiber infrastructure should reach 450,000 kilometers in the country and the copper cable-based broadband infrastructure - which is worn out - should be made from fiber cables.
The MOBILSIAD head added the national broadband plan should be prepared with broad industry participation from all parties, adding that around 13 countries have already prepared such a strategic plan.
According to the Turkish Competitive Telco Operators’ Association (TELKODER), Turkey has already established just over 250,000 kilometers of fiber infrastructure as of the first quarter of 2015.
Türk Telekom, a telecommunication company, already owns nearly 200,000 kilometers of infrastructure.
Founded in 2009, MOBILSIAD has 24 members and consists of representatives of the value-added mobile services sector, mainly software companies.
Three mobile operators, Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom, won the rights to the country’s advanced 4.5G network after paying more than 3.9 billion euros ($4.5 billion) in a tender held by Turkish information and communication authority BTK last August.
According to the BTK, 4.5G technology will offer consumers the ability to use new technologies and provide faster browsing, downloads and uploads.
The total spectrum available will be increased by three times. The rights to the frequencies will last until April 30, 2029.
According to ministry figures released in 2015, the number of 3G subscribers had reached 61.1 million in Turkey.
The figures show that the number of cellphone subscribers reached 72 million while the number of broadband Internet subscribers had increased to over 44 million in the second quarter of 2015 from just six million in 2008.
