July 6, 2017
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the 2nd Phase Contract of the 4.5G Rural Mobile Coverage Project, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan recalled that they had made the use of the domestic and national base station ULAK mandatory at 10% in the first project and 30% in the second during the establishment of the 4.5G infrastructure, stating that their goal is to make all infrastructures usable with domestic and national products in the very near future.
The 4.5G Rural Mobile Coverage Project 2nd Phase Contract was signed at a ceremony held at the Ministry by Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan, General Manager of Communications Ensar Kılıç, Türk Telekom CEO Paul Doany, and Vodafone Turkey CEO Colman Deegan.
In his speech there, Arslan said that their aim is to implement projects that directly touch citizens and make life easier. Pointing out that they have launched an important project for rural areas without mobile communication infrastructure with this contract, Arslan explained that they had previously brought services to citizens' doorsteps at 1,799 points and will establish 4.5G technology-based infrastructure for mobile broadband internet and voice services in 1,472 settlements.
Recalling that they had made the use of the domestic and national base station ULAK mandatory at 10% in the first project and 30% in the second during the establishment of the 4.5G infrastructure, Arslan stated that their goal is to make all infrastructures usable with domestic and national products in the very near future.
Drawing attention to the fact that the operators' efforts to enable users to benefit better from next-generation technologies will also contribute to the development of the sector together with the companies, Arslan emphasized that they are working to establish the same cooperation approach in mobile phone infrastructures as well.
Stating that the projects will make significant contributions to the country's transformation into an information society and the elimination of the digital divide, Arslan continued as follows:
"We are providing broadband mobile internet and voice services using public resources under universal service to places where operators do not provide services due to commercial concerns. With universal service projects, our goal is to ensure that our citizens meet the latest technology whether in cities or villages. Thus, by providing broadband access opportunities in villages just like in cities, we will increase their quality of life and knowledge levels."
"NATIONAL DRILL IN 2017, INTERNATIONAL IN 2018"
Noting that the length of fiber infrastructure has reached 300 thousand kilometers from 80 thousand kilometers in the last 15 years, and the number of mobile subscribers is around 76 million, Arslan announced that there are approximately 64.3 million broadband subscribers, 10.8 million fixed and 53.5 million mobile.
Reminding that in the 4.5G service tender, a domestic ratio of 30% in the first year, 40% in the second year, and 45% in the third year was introduced, Arslan stated that the ULAK project was developed by the Ministry and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries within the scope of the work.
Reminding that 3 national and 1 international cyber security drills have been conducted so far, Arslan said that they aim to conduct one national this year and one international next year.