The Data Center Eurasia 2025 Exhibition, held at the Istanbul Expo Center, brought together public and private sector representatives. The importance of data was discussed in the program.
Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, made important statements on cybersecurity and data at Data Center Eurasia 2025.
Emphasizing that data is one of the most critical areas of the rapid transformation brought by digitalization, Sayan stated, “In the past, data centers were seen more as storage facilities. However, today, with powerful processing capacities, energy efficiency, and security standards, they have reached a strategic position.”
Drawing attention to the rapid increase in data centers worldwide, Sayan noted, “As of 2025, there are approximately 12,000 data centers in the world. This market is expected to exceed 1 trillion dollars by 2030. As Turkey, we are also advancing determinedly in this field.”
Indicating that data centers in Turkey are currently operating in the provinces of Ankara, Bursa, Denizli, Istanbul, Izmir, Gebze, and Tekirdağ, Sayan said, “Our new data center under construction by TÜRKSAT in Ankara-Gölbaşı will be an environmentally friendly facility with low carbon emissions and high energy efficiency. We are demonstrating a strong commitment to keeping Turkey's data in Turkey.”
Deputy Minister Sayan: Ensuring Data Security is More Important Than Collecting It
Drawing attention to the fact that not only collecting data but also securing it is a strategic issue, Sayan said, “Collecting data is important. Processing it is very valuable. Storing it is strategic. But if you cannot ensure their security, the digital structures you have built will face the risk of collapse in the face of even the smallest attack.”
Stating that Turkey faces thousands of cyber attacks every day, Sayan said, “Our citizens don't even notice most of these attacks. Because USOM teams detect and block the threat before it is even noticed.”
Sayan noted that cyber defense capacity has been strengthened with software such as AVCI, AZAD, KASIRGA, ATMACA, and KULE, developed entirely with domestic and national resources by BTK, and that the Cyber Security Law, which entered into force on March 19, 2025, and the establishment of the Presidency of Cyber Security have further strengthened the structure in this field.
President Karagözoğlu: We Prioritize Domestic and National Technologies in Every Step We Take
Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, who spoke at the program, also highlighted the importance of data for our country. “As Turkey, we have implemented every step of our digital transformation journey by prioritizing domestic and national technologies, in line with our President's vision of regional leadership,” said Karagözoğlu. “As the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, we are resolutely continuing our work to establish a strong and reliable digital infrastructure, ensure data security at the highest level, and support sustainable digital ecosystems. In this direction, within the framework of the National Technology Initiative vision, developing domestic and national technologies, reducing external dependency in digital infrastructures, and enabling our country to be self-sufficient in strategic technologies are among our primary priorities.”
Emphasizing the great importance of data centers in domestic and national production strategies, Karagözoğlu, who also drew attention to the importance of Data Center Eurasia, said, “We support sectoral collaborations for data centers to achieve international standards in terms of energy efficiency, sustainability, and cyber resilience. At the same time, preparations for 5G and beyond technologies, strengthening cloud computing infrastructures, artificial intelligence strategies, and policies focused on green transformation are among our main priority areas of work as an institution. We are taking all these steps to transform our country from a mere follower of digitalization into a leader and producer, in line with the Turkey Century vision, which is Turkey's future vision.”