Hosted by Marmara Fuarcılık and MOBİSAD, the MOBİSAD-IMEX Mobile Communication and Information Technologies Fair was held at the Istanbul Expo Center. The fair, which brought together sector representatives, discussed innovations and suggestions related to the mobile communication sector.
Speaking at the organized program, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan evaluated the point reached in Turkey's digitalization process, stating, “5G is not just a technological leap for us, but also a matter of strategic independence.”
Noting that the digital age brings rapid transformation to every field, Sayan said, “Almost the entire society is an active part of the digital world. Our duty is to make this world more secure, faster, and more accessible.”
Deputy Minister Sayan: We Will Hold the 5G Auction on October 16
Touching on Turkey's transition process to 5G, Sayan said, “In cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, Eskişehir, and Konya; at Istanbul Airport and the stadiums of our four major football clubs, our citizens can directly experience 5G.”
Sayan stated, “As of October 1, the Turkish Grand National Assembly has started the new legislative year with 5G-speed internet. Very soon after, we will hold the 5G auction on October 16 and bring 5G services to our citizens as of April 1, 2026.”
Expressing that 5G is not only a technology but also a matter of strategic independence, Sayan said, “We aim to establish our own infrastructure with domestically and nationally produced products as much as possible.”
Stating that artificial intelligence has now become an indispensable part of daily life, Sayan said, “Artificial intelligence is fed with big data. Transporting this data quickly, securely, and efficiently is possible with 5G. Without 5G, artificial intelligence cannot operate at full capacity; without artificial intelligence, the potential offered by 5G cannot fully emerge.”
Sayan said, “Examples from around the world show us what even small oversights can cost. Therefore, regulation in the field of artificial intelligence is of vital importance.”
Stating that they will continue to shape Turkey's digital future with a domestic and national vision, Sayan concluded his speech by saying, “Our greatest guide is the Milli Teknoloji Hamlesi vision put forward by our President. Our goal in this regard is very clear: To develop high technology with our own engineers and our own resources.”
President Karagözoğlu: Turkey is Progressing on the Path to Having a Say at the Center of the Digital Age
Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, who attended the event, also emphasized Turkey's strong progress in the digitalization process.
Drawing attention to communication being one of the most fundamental needs in human history, Karagözoğlu said, “Talking about the power of communication means talking about the power of the future.”
Noting that the number of mobile subscribers in Turkey has exceeded 95 million, President Karagözoğlu said, “This number is even higher than our country’s population. Everyone is now a part of this great digital network.”
Stating that the 618 thousand kilometers of fiber infrastructure extending across Turkey carries not only today’s communication but also future technologies, Karagözoğlu said, “Every kilometer of fiber network is building the path to future technologies.”
President Karagözoğlu: We Are Preparing for 5G and 6G with Domestic and National Technologies
Stating that Turkey has become an exemplary country in its region with the investments it has made in communication infrastructure over the last 20 years, Karagözoğlu said, “While internet speed was measured in kilobytes at the beginning of the 2000s, today we are preparing for gigabytes of data transfer in seconds with 5G. Domestic 5G base stations, satellite projects, and national software-hardware initiatives are concrete steps of this vision.”
Emphasizing that digitalization should not be limited to big cities, President Karagözoğlu said, “Our biggest goal is for a student in a remote village to connect to the world via the internet, for a farmer to increase productivity with mobile applications, and for a patient to access remote health services.”
Sharing the information that preparations for 6G have also begun, Karagözoğlu drew attention to future works by saying, “As BTK, we are creating the regulatory infrastructure by considering not only individual but also societal impacts of technological developments.”
Stating that the MOBİSAD – IMEX Fair is an important meeting point that strengthens public-private sector and academia cooperation, Karagözoğlu expressed that the fair will make valuable contributions to our country’s digital transformation journey.