15.8.2017
BTK President Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, speaking at the 17th anniversary ceremony of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), said, “Be aware of BTK's difference, be proud of BTK, value BTK, empower BTK because this power is Turkey's power.”
The 17th anniversary of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) was celebrated with a ceremony. The event at the BTK headquarters was attended by Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Galip Zerey, METU Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Verşan Kök, Hacettepe University Rector Prof. Dr. A. Haluk Özen, Bilkent University Rector Prof. Dr. Abdullah Atalar, Vodafone CEO Colman Deegan, Türk Telekom Deputy General Manager Cengiz Doğan, Turkcell General Manager Kaan Terzioğlu, BTK Board Members, BTK Managers, employees and their families, and sector representatives.
WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES WITH THE DEDICATION OF OUR PERSONNEL
Stating that they had the honor of spending another year in the service of the nation and that the BTK family was very happy on such a day when an important step was taken in the 5G field for the country, Sayan said: “In the past year, we experienced and are experiencing two very different and very critical processes: the 4.5G tender and July 15. The development momentum gained by our country with 4.5G has shown itself not only in informatics but in all sectors and continues to do so. The betrayal we experienced on July 15 hit the traitors like a boomerang, and it became and continues to be a great occasion for our people's resurgence. At this point, with the hard work and loyalty of our board members, my manager colleagues, and our personnel's dedication as the BTK family, we have covered great distances and passed through many bottlenecks. In the light of Mevlâna's words, 'Rivers kneel before the jug that finds its way to the ocean,' we continue and will continue on our path...”
WE ARE CROWNING OUR 17TH YEAR WITH "5G VALLEY-OPEN TEST FIELD"
Expressing that BTK's 17th year is being crowned with the "5G Valley-Open Test Field," Sayan said, “As the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), our goal is for our country to be in this race, to be one of the first countries in the world to get acquainted with 5G, and to shift from a consumer position to a producer position while doing so. In line with these goals, with the signing of the '5G Valley Open Test Field Cooperation Protocol,' the project to establish an open test field where R&D, product development, testing, and trials needed for 5G and beyond can be conducted is being brought to life. Thus, as BTK, we will have achieved another important stage in our efforts to establish the 5G and beyond ecosystem in line with the goal of making Turkey one of the countries that transitions to 5G mobile communication technology with the highest possible levels of domestic and national content at the earliest time.”
WE HAVE TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS FOR OUR CYBER SECURITY
Explaining that in the period left behind, they set out with the motto "the place you do not defend is not yours" in the context of our country's cyber defense, Sayan said: “As the National Cyber Incident Response Center USOM, we initiated SOME meetings and training processes. We emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in cybersecurity to look at incidents holistically and wanted to 'strengthen the weakest link.' With this thought, we made a call to our youth and opened BTK's doors wide to anyone who wants to participate in 'homeland defense in the cyber field.' In this context, we hosted and supported events such as Hacktrick Cybersecurity Training, E-safe Cybersecurity Summit, and Locard. There were two things I emphasized at these summits: First, unleashing the potential in our tech-savvy youth; second, that we have no future if patriotic people do not take this seriously. At the point we have reached today, it is very clear that USOM's efforts and foresight played a major role in the WannaCry malware cyber attack that shook the world not being felt in our country. Our country emerged unscathed from these attacks. What falls to us is to accelerate our work on this path with more confident steps. If we are to be an informatics island and walk the path of creating an ecosystem, our most important companion by our side is undoubtedly our cybersecurity.”
SAFE INTERNET CENTER CONTINUES ITS WORK
Emphasizing that the internet, which increases efficiency in all sectors, also brings some handicaps with it, Sayan said, “In the past year, with the Safe Internet Center whose opening we held, we gave the start to many works and are giving. In the past period, to raise awareness among our youth and children about using the internet consciously, we organized the 'Safe Internet Pull-Send Video Contest' covering secondary education and high schools. There were hundreds of participations. Seeing the bright intelligence of our youth and children on this issue and the aesthetic power in their narrations pleased us immensely. In truth, it encouraged us a lot for the projects we will do. I can already say and give the good news that we will sign many projects in this field next year.”
WHO HOLDS THE HAND OF EVIL HAS BECOME EVIL HIMSELF
Stating that as a descendant of a civilization where everything from the culture of living together to the perception of courtesy is meticulously formed, the virtual world has a need for philosophy, Sayan said, “We have the obligation to emphasize that lies are lies everywhere, slanders are slanders everywhere, gossip is gossip everywhere, voyeurism is voyeurism everywhere, and many other bad traits are bad everywhere, in order to meet on the common ground of humanity. At this point, it would be appropriate to emphasize that terrorism support has found space for itself through the internet and social media around the world, and it uses this new media as if it were its own press organ. As BTK, we have two principles in this area, and we will continue on our path by adhering to the fine measure of these two principles:
*First, we know that the internet is a field of freedom and we are and will be on the side of freedoms.
*Second, we will absolutely not tolerate international terrorist organizations that abuse this freedom area and manipulation centers that support them.
Let those who support them know that evil does not stick to those it holds hands with, it has already stuck... Who holds the hand of evil has become evil himself. Tell me who your friend is and I’ll tell you who you are...” he stated.
OUR CAMPAIGN FOR DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL PRODUCTION CONTINUES
Conveying that one of the most important issues in front of our informatics sector is domestic and national production, Sayan said, “On the road to 5G, especially in critical infrastructures, creating a production ecosystem is a must. In this direction, we can show the 'Electronic Communications Sector Clustering Meeting' we organized with Ostim as an exemplary work. The purpose of clustering here was to develop a spirit of national unity and togetherness in this sector where global competition is very intense, and to gain the ability to work together rather than individually. One of the best examples of this is ULAK, our base station that is completely domestically produced and pioneering in Turkey in this sense. ULAK has reached the level where it can be used in the 4.5G commercial networks currently operated by mobile operators. I want to make a call to all stakeholders of our sector from here. Come, let's give up selling packaged, ready-made materials. Let's produce what's inside that package ourselves, let's sell it ourselves. If we adopt this mission, we will make great contributions to our domestic and national production goals.”
LAST YEAR WAS THE YEAR OF INNOVATIONS IN THE REGULATION FIELD
Stating that last year was literally the year of innovations in the regulation field, Sayan conveyed the innovations as follows:
“•EHABS was implemented. Value-Added Services were regulated.
•With the AKN regulation, the date for gradually ending the AKN application was announced.
•Security and data sharing procedures for postal and cargo shipments were determined.
•With port transmission, operators' tariffs were diversified. The way was opened for offering more affordable tariffs to consumers.
•A 50% discount was made on the highest item of TRX fees to open the way for investment. Studies continue to increase investment further.
•All communication devices imported into our country are tested in BTK laboratories, and import permits are given only to those deemed secure.
•Internet collective use provider regulation and Safe Internet Center were established.
•With the new consumer rights regulation we decided on, the way is opened for electronic subscription.
•Cli regulation was issued. BTK code application was introduced to prevent unwanted SMSs.”
SPREADING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS IS OUR NATIONAL POLICY
Explaining that the rapid changing technology in our era attracting interest from our people in our country also pleases them, Sayan listed the 2023 targets regarding broadband in communication technologies as follows;
“•Providing broadband access to every home and workplace through next-generation technologies,
•Reaching approximately 83 million broadband subscribers in 2023,
•Providing broadband internet usage to 80% of the population aged 16-74. Such agendas are in place. Preparations need to be made for these targets to be realized and even taken further.”
EMPOWER BTK BECAUSE THIS POWER IS TURKEY'S POWER
“Our goals are the equipment that will carry us forward,” said Sayan, “No one should have any doubt that we will conduct works that elevate our civilizational values even more in this regard. As long as we exist, as we put our effort into these lands, our nation will rise, our country will win. We will walk on the path shown by our faith and traditional values, aware of the responsibilities on our shoulders. I am making a call to everyone from here. Be aware of BTK's difference, be proud of BTK, value BTK, empower BTK because this power is Turkey's power.
Sayan concluded his speech with the sentences: “I present our gratitude and appreciation to our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who expands our vision with the qualified policies he sets for our goals. I thank our Prime Minister Mr. Binali Yıldırım very much, especially for the point he brought our country in communication technologies during his Ministry of Transport period and for giving us courage for what we will do in the future. I thank our Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Mr. Ahmet Arslan very much for his serious contributions to our projects during his ministry, for encouraging us with his work zeal, and for lending us a hand. Finally, I thank all my colleagues who have contributed to this institution. I wish for many more years where we will work more together for a Great Turkey.”
At the 17th anniversary event of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, the “5G Valley Open Test Field Cooperation Protocol” was signed with all parties. In addition, within the framework of the event, coding training was provided to the children of BTK employees under the “Tomorrow's Coders” project conducted in cooperation with Turkey Vodafone Foundation and Habitat, and the BTK 17th anniversary program continued throughout the day with various events and celebrations held at the BTK Experience Center with the participation of BTK personnel and their families.