Deputy Minister Sayan: Turkey's First Domestic and National Satellite Will Take Its Place in Orbit in 2022
Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, attended the Satcom Vision 2019 Conference.
At the event hosted by the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, the importance of satellite systems was discussed. Deputy Minister of UAB Sayan also evaluated Turkey's progress in this field. Sayan stated that the world has entered an era where national borders are rapidly transcended in local and national economies, information communication, and technological trends. Emphasizing that changes in the production structure achieved through the use of new technologies constitute the fundamental dynamic of transformation in human life, Sayan said, "With developing technology, profound and fundamental changes have occurred in television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications. Satellite communication services have gained a completely different dimension."
Expressing that high-speed satellite systems have higher bandwidths, Sayan noted that they have lower launch and per-bit costs, and the ability to focus on smaller areas and provide point-to-point services. Sayan stated that marketing activities are facilitated through domestic R&D and services by operators, and services are offered to wider audiences, which will increase internet usage and spread these services nationwide.
Deputy Minister Sayan: Service Provision Became Possible by Obtaining Authorization Through Notification
Drawing attention to the fact that with these developments, high-speed internet connection will be provided at more reasonable prices in areas where cable access is not possible, Sayan said, "One of the important steps taken on this path is the reductions made in the Radio Fee Tariff attached to the Electronic Communications Law. Some satellite radio license and usage fees have been abolished to provide a fair competitive environment for satellite operators and to enable subscribers to receive quality services at affordable prices, and the financial obligations on operators have been reduced to the minimum possible level. For the same purpose, pursuant to our current legislation, operators currently working in satellite services have been enabled to start providing services by obtaining authorization through notification."
Pointing out that they have taken steps to produce products for broadband internet services provided over Türksat communication satellites in Turkey, Sayan said, "Nearly 70% of Turkey's first domestic and national satellite Türksat 6A Project has been completed. We aim for the satellite to take its place in orbit in 2022. The project financing of Türksat 6A is covered by the R&D fund of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Our Ministry's R&D Directorate will continue to support this and similar projects, and we are expecting new projects."
Deputy Minister Sayan: Our Most Important Motto is Domestic and National Production
Stating that when it comes to cybersecurity, accessing accurate information and sharing it in the right place, on time, and with the right person or institution is of great importance, Sayan said that protecting the value one possesses is more important than possessing something.
Underlining that their most important duty is domestic and national production, Sayan concluded his speech by saying, "We attach extraordinary importance to this issue both in our work and in our speeches. Especially in the technology field, being domestic and national has become almost a reflex for us."