The 11th Public Informatics Summit, organized by the Public Informatics Association under the theme “Informatics for the Future,” was hosted by the Information Technologies and Communication Authority. The summit was attended by numerous figures from both the public and private sectors, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Zekeriya Coştu, and Vice President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority Selamettin Ermiş.
In his opening speech at the summit, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan stated that concepts such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, Internet of Things, blockchain, 5G and beyond technologies, smart cities, and machine learning are gaining increasing importance with the digital transformation process.
Expressing that information and communication technologies bring digital transformations in both the business world and the public sector, Sayan said, “The e-Government platform, which entered service in our country in 2008, is one of the best examples of this. Thanks to this system, preferred by millions of citizens, efficiency increases alongside the provision of more effective and efficient services, allowing our citizens to benefit from public services to the maximum extent. Today, more than 66 million citizens access services through the e-Government gateway.”
Stating that they welcome with pleasure the interest shown by citizens in electronic communication technologies, Sayan said, “Currently, we have 93.3 million mobile subscribers corresponding to a penetration rate of approximately 109.3%, while our M2M subscriber count has reached 10 million. In addition, ensuring high-speed internet access via mobile and fixed infrastructures is one of the fundamental goals of our country in the technology field.”
Sayan stated, “In this direction; 3G service was launched in 2009, and the subscriber count reached 66 million by March 2016. Following the introduction of 4.5G in April 2016, the 4.5G subscriber count has now exceeded 86 million, accounting for 92.5% of our mobile subscribers. On the other hand, our broadband subscriber count has surpassed 92.6 million, while our fiber network, the most critical infrastructure element, has exceeded 577 thousand km. The number of subscribers receiving service via fiber has also passed 7.3 million.”
Noting that 5G and beyond technologies bring great opportunities, Sayan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement “We cannot transition to 5G without establishing a domestic 5G technology infrastructure” forms the basis of their main course of action.
Sayan said, “We have been successfully conducting the 5G Open Test Field, 5G TR Forum, and 5G Valley initiatives for years. Within the framework of the goal for our country’s transition to 5G with domestic and national network products, the ‘End-to-End Domestic and National 5G Communication Network Project’ is being carried out by our companies that are members of the Communication Technologies Cluster and our three mobile operators. Technology developers can conduct tests at the 5G Valley Open Test Field. Our main goal here is to establish testing, verification, and trial infrastructure for all R&D and product development activities in the 5G and Beyond fields and to support the delivery of new services produced with our own resources to our people.”
Deputy Minister Sayan: We Aim to Turn Our Country into a High-Tech Production Hub
Emphasizing the importance of security measures to protect this infrastructure developing at the same speed while building a strong digital infrastructure, Sayan said, “We are aware of our duty in this regard as the Ministry. The National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM), established under the Information Technologies and Communication Authority and referred to as ‘Turkey's cyber fortress,’ conducts activities to detect and prevent cyber threats from domestic and international sources. Applications such as AVCI, AZAD, KASIRGA, ATMACA, and KULE, developed entirely domestically and nationally, can detect compromised and malware-infected systems and protect our cyber homeland 7/24 by taking necessary measures at full speed.”
Emphasizing the importance of domestic and national production, Sayan concluded his speech by saying, “You cannot own any product you do not produce yourself. In this regard, all our efforts are to reach the ‘Digital Turkey’ goal and turn our country into a high-tech production hub with breakthroughs in innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, and 5G required by the digital age.”
President Ermiş: Keeping Up with Technology Has Become a Necessity
Selahattin Ermiş, Vice President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, also delivered important messages to the participants at the summit. In his speech, Ermiş highlighted the stages Turkey has reached in its digitalization journey and the priorities of the BTK.
Stating that digitalization has now become not an option but a necessity, Ermiş expressed that developing informatics technologies are causing profound changes in many areas from state management to the health sector, public services to the economy.
Ermiş said, “Now, information and services are accessible with a single click. This situation not only provides significant efficiency increases in public services but also offers our citizens more effective, faster, and accessible services. One of the most concrete examples of the impact of digitalization in the public sphere in our country is undoubtedly the e-Government gateway.”
Ermiş noted that applications like the e-Government gateway provide efficiency and cost advantages in public services while facilitating citizens' quick and transparent access to information. He stated that such applications simplify bureaucratic processes, reduce paper consumption, and make the public more agile.
President Ermiş: Digital Independence is the Key to the Future
Also touching on the security dimension of the digitalization process, Ermiş stated that a serious struggle is being waged against cyber threats through the National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM) under the BTK.
Ermiş said, “Under the strong leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with the National Technology Move vision we have launched, we are advancing step by step towards the Turkey Century. In this direction, as BTK, we are developing domestic and national solutions to secure our country’s digital infrastructure, taking important steps to ensure digital security in the public sphere by reducing external dependency.”
Emphasizing that as BTK, they are making major investments in 5G and beyond technologies, artificial intelligence applications, and cyber security infrastructures, Ermiş noted that ensuring digital independence is also a fundamental element of national security.
Stating that digital transformation will be realized not only with technological infrastructures but also with an innovative and bold vision, Ermiş concluded his speech by saying, “We are determined to fulfill all the responsibilities that fall upon us to position our country as a pioneering and leading nation in the informatics field. Our goal is to contribute to the future of the world as a country that does not import technology but produces it and leads it. With our Turkey Century vision, we will continue to take steady steps in this direction and build our tomorrows with domestic and national technologies.”