Deputy Minister Sayan: Our SMEs Are Adding Strength to Turkey's Independence
Ericsson Turkey hosted the “Ericsson Turkey Innovation Seminar in Telecommunications and SME Trainings 2025 Conference” digitally.
Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, who participated in the program, emphasized the strategic importance of digitalization for Turkey and highlighted that 5G is not only a technological innovation but also a matter of independence.
Sayan noted that the internet usage rate has exceeded 88%, and the number of mobile connections has surpassed 80 million, underscoring Turkey's significant potential in the digital age. “Following the tender on October 16, we will introduce 5G services to our citizens as of April 1, 2026. We view this transition not just as a technological leap, but as a matter of strategic independence,” he said.
Highlighting developments regarded as concrete reflections of the National Technology Initiative, Sayan drew attention to the communication infrastructure developed with domestic and national products, citing ULAK Communications' efforts as an example. Sayan stated that 5G competency centers, test fields, and private networks would increase efficiency in many areas from industry to agriculture.
Sayan also touched upon the importance of the domestic 5G ecosystem launched at Teknopark Istanbul. Noting that preparations are underway not only for 5G but also for 6G, Sayan said, “With 6G, AI-supported smart networks and much lower latency times will enter our lives.”
Emphasizing the critical role of SMEs in the economy, Sayan concluded his speech by saying, “In Turkey, 99.8% of businesses are SMEs, and they provide 72% of employment. SMEs are building our country's future with the opportunities offered by digitalization. Ericsson Turkey’s collaborations and training programs contribute to this process.”
President Karagözoğlu: Our SMEs' Digitalization Journey Will Build Turkey's Future
Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, who spoke at the program, emphasized that digitalization represents a vital transformation not only for individuals but also for SMEs, the backbone of the economy.
Karagözoğlu said, “In the past, our phones were just for saying ‘hello.’ Today, we carry our entire lives in our pockets, from banking to education, health to communication. Digitalization is no longer an option; it is life itself. In such a world, it is impossible for our SMEs to remain outside this transformation.”
Stating that innovation is not exclusive to large companies, Karagözoğlu said, “Innovation is an inevitable necessity for institutions, startups, and even individuals of every scale. Because in today's world, innovation is the fundamental condition for survival, competition, and building the future. Competition is faster than ever before. When we look at the leading economies in the world, we see this: Power does not only come from tech giants. Innovative SMEs are also among the most important players in this race. For our country to be at the forefront in this race, we need to strongly support our SMEs' digitalization journey.”
Emphasizing that Turkey is advancing on the path to becoming an actor shaping the future with the vision of the National Technology Initiative, Karagözoğlu said, “Our goal is to prepare our country for the digital age in the strongest way possible. We attach importance to R&D. We attach importance to innovation. We attach importance to domestic production and domestic startups. Because we know that if our SMEs strengthen, our economy will strengthen; if our technological independence increases, our country's tomorrows will be more secure.”
Karagözoğlu concluded his speech with the words, “As BTK, we have always encouraged domestic and national solutions in the transition processes from 3G to 4.5G, and then to 5G. And we will continue to do so.”