The 15th International Electronic Communications and Postal Regulators Conference, organized under the theme “Digital Future: Transformation of Electronic Communications and Postal Sectors,” began under the hosting of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority.
The conference, which will continue on May 29-30, was attended at its opening by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Minister of Public Works and Transport of the TRNC Erhan Arıklı, AK Party Deputy Chairman Dr. Ömer İleri, and President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the transformative winds of the digital age are blending the electronic communications and postal sectors and building bridges between them.
Noting that pioneering concepts of the era such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, automation, and big data are now reshaping not only specific sectors but every area of life, Uraloğlu said, "There is no single moment left in homes, workplaces, daily life, or professional arenas where the magical touch of technology is not felt. The cornerstone of this magnificent transformation is undoubtedly artificial intelligence."
Drawing attention to the fact that artificial intelligence is not just a technical transformation but a strategic treasure discussed on the global stage with its economic and social dimensions, Uraloğlu stated that last year, the internet usage rate in Türkiye exceeded 86 percent, while the number of mobile internet users surpassed 80 million.
Minister Uraloğlu: We Will Launch 5G Mobile Communication Systems Next Year
Informing that Türkiye's fiber infrastructure has exceeded 605 thousand kilometers with an annual growth rate of 10 percent over the last 10 years, and the number of fiber internet subscribers has passed 8 million, Uraloğlu said that this situation is an indicator of Türkiye's determination in its digitalization journey and its success in strengthening its infrastructure.
Stating that developing mobile infrastructure and broadband services are directing not only individuals but also businesses and public institutions towards digitalization, Uraloğlu said, “Our goal is to carry this solid foundation even further. InshaAllah, we will bring the 5G Mobile Communication Systems, whose tender we will hold this year, into the service of our nation next year. The electronic communications and postal sectors are undergoing tremendous transformation by blending the heritage they have taken from their rooted history with the dynamics of the digital age. Innovations such as the internet, artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data are revitalizing these sectors both on a global scale and in our country.”
Drawing attention to the fact that the increasing investments of operators and the growth in human resources in the relevant sectors are indicators of producing more agile and inclusive solutions for every new need, Uraloğlu expressed that every step taken on this path yields fruitful results.
Uraloğlu stated that the "Tariff Comparison Project" shone among the champion projects by ranking among the top 5 projects in the information and knowledge access category in the "World Summit on the Information Society Awards."
Emphasizing that the project is a service that allows citizens to easily compare phone and internet tariffs, Uraloğlu said, "Now, through the e-Government gateway, the tariffs and campaigns of 13 companies with the highest number of subscribers can be compared transparently. Mobile phone, fixed internet, and fixed phone tariffs will become accessible on a single platform. Thus, our citizens will be able to quickly access the most suitable tariff for their needs by making easy selections based on criteria such as operator name, monthly fee, payment type, commitment period, connection speed, and cancellation fee."
Stating that like electronic communications, another sector that strengthens humanity's social ties is the postal sector, Uraloğlu pointed out that mail has gone beyond letter transportation to form the backbone of information flow, trade, and public services.
Providing information about the historical development of postal services worldwide and Türkiye's integration process into the sector, Uraloğlu said, "With the studies we have conducted in recent years, especially in the fields of digitalization, cybersecurity, 5G technologies, and artificial intelligence, we are actively participating as a stakeholder in ITU's technical committees and decision-making processes, taking a strong place as a partner in building the digital future."
Minister Uraloğlu: Cargo Revenues Approaching 107 Billion Lira
Drawing attention to the prevailing thought that postal services would lose importance with the widespread use of mobile phones, but contrary to expectations, the electronic communications sector opened new horizons for postal services, Uraloğlu explained that the widespread use of the internet and e-commerce has carried the sector to another dimension.
Stating that 5.5 billion people worldwide use the internet and approximately 2.7 billion people are in the magical world of e-commerce, Uraloğlu said, “The global e-commerce volume has exceeded 6.3 trillion dollars. While the global postal sector's parcel volume grew by 22 percent between 2020 and 2024, sector revenues reached 262.1 billion dollars by the end of 2024. In our country, the development of e-commerce and the postal sector is like conjoined twins. Türkiye's e-commerce volume grew by 61.7 percent compared to 2023, exceeding 3 trillion lira by the end of 2024. Cargo shipments increased 2.2 times from 2019 to 2024, surpassing 1 billion 385 million, and cargo revenues approached 107 billion lira. In 2024, with an investment of 12.7 billion lira, more than 122 thousand employees are serving in the sector.”
Emphasizing that the size of the sector also brings certain responsibilities and challenges, Uraloğlu stressed that Türkiye has not remained indifferent to these challenges and has made a difference with solution-oriented steps.
Stating that the delivery code system implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in making product delivery processes smooth and reliable, Uraloğlu said, "Deliveries have now become more transparent, secure, and user-friendly. Postal service providers have been enabled to offer 24/7 delivery and return services through cooperation with artisan workplaces, site stationery units, and locked cargo lockers. With obligations such as ISO 27001 Information Security Standards, the sector's reliability has been further strengthened."
Emphasizing that all these developments in electronic communications and postal fields have also increased the importance of cybersecurity, Uraloğlu said, "Our country is achieving very successful works with the system it has established centered on the National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM) in this field. Through domestic and national software, Sectoral CSIRTs established in critical sectors and Institutional CSIRTs within public and private institutions ensure our country's cybersecurity. USOM fights malicious software day and night. With 2,346 CSIRTs and 8,080 registered individuals on the Cybersecurity Information Platform (SİP), thousands of attacks are thwarted. In 2025, 4,715 cybersecurity vulnerabilities have been detected, and access to 35,416 malicious internet addresses has been blocked. In our country's digital transformation journey, we will continue to work tirelessly to build a stronger IT infrastructure with global cooperation and innovative approaches.” He concluded his speech with these words.
President Karagözoğlu: We Are Now Present Not Only in Communications But in Every Area of Life
Information Technologies and Communication Authority President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu also made evaluations on the digitalization process in electronic communications and postal fields within the scope of the conference.
Starting his speech by celebrating BTK's 25th anniversary, Karagözoğlu said, “A step taken 25 years ago has today turned into a structure stretching like a digital backbone across Türkiye. We have become an institution that manages not only frequencies but also data, trust, and the future. We are now present not only in the communications field but in every moment and every area of life.”
Emphasizing that Türkiye is one of the few countries that can develop its own software infrastructure, Karagözoğlu said, “Our next goal is to develop an artificial intelligence application of our own. These systems do not learn on their own. We train them. Our own culture, our own language, our own social structure are added to the data pool of these systems. If we do not establish the infrastructure of this intelligence, others will build systems that will make decisions on our behalf.”
Emphasizing the importance of international cooperation, Karagözoğlu said, “As one of the most experienced members representing the Western Europe-B Region uninterruptedly for six terms since 2002 in the Council, which is the most important administrative body of the International Telecommunication Union-ITU, I would like to express from here our determination to continue our Council membership for the 2027-2030 period in the elections to be held in 2026 and to continue our support to ITU.”
Following the opening speeches, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM) and BTK within the framework of the 15th International Electronic Communications and Postal Regulators Conference.