October 8, 2015
Turkey and Japan are entering into cooperation in the field of information technologies and communications, particularly focusing on 5G. A joint declaration text regarding cooperation was signed between the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) and Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
During President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Japan, a joint declaration text on cooperation in information technologies and communications between Turkey and Japan was also signed.
The joint declaration text was signed by Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), on behalf of Turkey, and Deputy Minister Yasou Sakamoto on behalf of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
The Joint Declaration signed between Turkey and Japan, taking into account the importance of information and communication technologies in enhancing social and economic welfare and the vital role of next-generation communication systems in modern society, envisages the sharing of knowledge and experience in policy and regulation matters—particularly 5G—and the strengthening of private sector relations between the two countries.
BTK President Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan stated at the signing ceremony: “The joint declaration signed between Turkey and Japan is of great importance. As BTK, we conducted the Authorization Auction for IMT Services and Infrastructures on August 26, 2015. With this auction, services will commence with 4.5G technology, paving the way for transitioning to 5G technology with domestic technology. In this context, further expansion of broadband infrastructure and delivering mobile broadband services to more consumers is expected to make a significant contribution to the national economy.”
Sayan continued: “Within the vision outlined by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we aim to be among the first countries to adopt 5G technology. Therefore, we place great importance on bilateral cooperations. We assess that initiating cooperation in this field with Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which plans to introduce 5G mobile communication services before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will contribute to achieving our goal of being among the first countries to adopt 5G technology. The cooperation to be established between the two countries also encompasses research and development (R&D), effective participation in global standardization efforts, and areas such as the ‘Internet of Things (IoT).’ The initiatives under the Joint Declaration are expected to support the achievement of targets such as creating patents developed domestically through R&D, Turkey's active involvement in international standard development efforts, and the production of domestic communication hardware and software.”
At the Joint Declaration signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Yasou Sakamoto highlighted the importance attached to 5G initiatives and the benefits of conducting project-based studies in this framework. Emphasizing the need for all relevant parties to participate in 5G efforts, he noted that they have established a “5G Forum” with representatives from the public sector, private sector, and academia; allocated budget for 5G test studies; plan to initiate 5G feasibility studies in 2017; intend to commercially offer 5G mobile communication services to users before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; and stated that 5G will form the infrastructure for IoT.
The signing ceremony for the Joint Declaration, which envisages cooperation between Turkey and Japan in information technologies and communications, was also attended by Figen Kılıç, a member of the Information Technologies and Communications Board, and Gazali Çiçek, Head of the International Relations Department.
