May 17, 2017
Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), speaking at the 25th Signal Processing and Communications Applications Conference organized by Istanbul Technical University, said, “We clearly see that change with 5G is inevitable. We want to be not just those who adapt to change, but those who drive it, and we are working towards that.”
BTK President Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan participated via video conference in the 25th Signal Processing and Communications Applications Conference/New Generation Communication Technologies and 5G Workshop organized by Istanbul Technical University and delivered a speech. The conference is known as the most comprehensive scientific event in Turkey in the fields of signal processing and communications, where researchers working in these areas come together and share their research results.
5G COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY AGENDA ITEM
Stating that one of the most important issues facing mobile communication operators is how to respond to the increasing data traffic demand, and that the infrastructure needs in communications that cannot be met with the current technological infrastructure in certain sectors should not be overlooked, Sayan said, “To meet all these needs and overcome the upcoming bottlenecks, there will be a need for a new mobile communication technology. While 4th Generation (4G) technologies (LTE) are advancing within themselves, 5th Generation (5G) communication technologies have become the main agenda item for institutions producing technology in this field worldwide. There is still a considerable amount of time before 5G reaches the masses. However, all players in the sector are aware that the opportunities provided by this technology must not be missed. There are three steps we need to take before 5G enters our lives: 'Increasing connectivity, developing vertical sectors, and redefining network capabilities.' These initiatives will also eliminate uncertainties regarding new technologies and business models.”
VERTICAL SECTORS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED BEFORE 5G
Explaining that another step to be taken before 5G is the development of vertical sectors, Sayan said, “As different smart city applications in transportation and energy continue to evolve, user expectations from network systems are increasingly rising. Electronic communication technologies today bring along many elements that will increase competition in vertical sectors. The electronic communications sector is analyzing these opportunities well and exerting more effort towards the digitalization of vertical sectors. Increasing connectivity and the development of vertical sectors hold an important place in the future of network systems.”
WE WANT TO BE THE DRIVERS OF CHANGE, NOT JUST ADAPTERS
Stating that they want to be not just adapters to change but drivers of it, and that they are working towards that, Sayan said: “In the world, R&D studies on 5G are progressing rapidly in Asia, Europe, and the US. However, 5G standards have not yet been fully determined. Standardization efforts are continuing rapidly under international standards bodies such as ITU and 3GPP. According to ITU's 5G roadmap, standardization work began in 2016 and is expected to be completed in 2020. The new generation mobile communication technology 5G is estimated to start being used in 2020. Looking at the transition period we saw in previous mobile data technologies, it is expected that 5G will begin to be used in developed countries globally and the system will be stabilized around 2022. Works on 5G, whose industrial standards are still being defined, are continuing rapidly on the international stage. In this regard, we consider it important for our country to participate in this race, to be one of the first countries to encounter 5G in the world, and to shift from a consumer position to a producer position while doing so.”
OUR GOAL: TRANSITIONING TO 5G WITH DOMESTIC RESOURCES
Reminding that as of April 1, the first year of the launch of 4.5G services has been completed, Sayan said, “Transitioning to 5G in 2020 and not settling for that but introducing the sector to national and original products is important. If we want to increase the domestic and national ratio in 5G, we need to increase the localization rate in 4.5G. All stakeholders of the issue should pay attention to localization rates. Being patriotic is not just about carrying the flag; it requires raising the flag higher.
In the 4.5G tender conducted by BTK, efforts continue to provide our country with a domestic and national infrastructure through the localization condition we included. The main goal here is to be among the pioneering countries in 5G with domestic production starting with 4.5G and to transition to 5G with domestic capabilities. Currently, the first sales contract for Turkey's first domestic and national base station ULAK has been signed with Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, and Türk Telekom. The base station in question has reached a level usable in commercial networks by operators at this stage; ULAK will be used within the scope of updating and expanding the mobile communication infrastructure established under the Universal Service Law. In addition to ULAK, significant progress has been made in the development of the Domestic Base Station Antenna initiated by ASELSAN, and at the beginning of this year, a cooperation agreement was signed between ASELSAN and our operators for the development of the domestic base station antenna.”
AS BTK, WE ARE ALWAYS READY TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES
Stating that 5G has a featured and privileged place in the 2017 government program, Sayan described their efforts to have a say in the international arena as follows: “In this framework, cooperation agreements have been made with countries such as Korea and Japan, which stand out in 5G. We have established the 'New Generation Mobile Communication Technologies Turkey Forum (5GTR Forum)' to ensure cooperation among public institutions, universities, producers, operators, and relevant civil society organizations and to coordinate the works to prepare Turkey for 5G and beyond. The Forum is continuing its work rapidly. In this regard, I invite all companies and organizations that have not yet joined the 5GTR Forum, as well as our universities, to become forum members, and we want to see our academics by our side. We welcome, follow, and desire the continuation and increase of our universities' academic studies on 5G, 5G and Beyond Laboratory activities, and joint works with domestic and foreign producers and our operators. At this point, I also want to state that as BTK, we are always ready to fulfill our duties.”
R&D WORKS FOR 5G ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
Reminding that R&D works are of great importance for the implementation of 5G and beyond systems and for turning the technologies developed in this field into products, Sayan said, “For our country to participate in this race, it is extremely critical for R&D works to turn into products. Our biggest goal should be to turn R&D works into patents, transfer those patents to international standardization efforts, and create domestic brands on a global scale with products based on these standards. We are aware of various problems, big and small, from training and employment of human resources to incentive mechanisms, diversification of financial resources, branding, and marketing of products. We believe that solving these problems is possible through all stakeholders coming together on efficient platforms and working together continuously.”
Sayan concluded his speech by thanking everyone who contributed to the 25th Signal Processing and Communications Applications Conference/New Generation Communication Technologies and 5G Workshop organized by Istanbul Technical University.