Global information technology (IT) managers, business partners, industry experts, and media representatives gathered at the 10th International Ultra Broadband Forum organized by Huawei.
Speaking at the forum where key sector topics were discussed, Deputy Minister Sayan stated that 5G and beyond technologies are expected to be used in many areas, especially in industrial fields, due to the opportunities they provide, such as connecting a much larger number of devices, high speeds, and low latency periods. Sayan expressed that 5G and beyond mobile technologies will directly impact the digital transformation of many sectors, offering significant contributions to long-term growth through cost savings and increased efficiency.
Sayan said, “Since the launch of 4.5G in April 2016, the number of 4.5G subscribers has exceeded 86 million today, accounting for 92.5% of our mobile subscribers. On the other hand, while our broadband subscriber count has surpassed 92.6 million, our fiber network, the most critical element of infrastructure, has exceeded 577 thousand km. The number of subscribers receiving service from fiber has also passed 7.3 million. In light of all these developments, it is evident that these figures will increase rapidly with the widespread adoption of 5G technology.”
Deputy Minister Sayan: We Are Developing a Domestic and National Production Ecosystem
Emphasizing that independence in every field today undeniably passes through domestic and national production, Sayan stated that they continue to work with the power obtained from the National Technology Move for Turkey's transition to 5G.
Mentioning that they have realized many projects within the framework of efforts to develop a domestic and national production ecosystem in the electronic communications sector, Sayan said, “Under the coordination of our Ministry and BTK, the Communications Technologies Cluster (HTK) was established under OSTİM in 2017. From the establishment of HTK to the present, we have conducted many studies with our manufacturing companies towards transitioning to 5G and beyond technologies with domestic and national products. With these studies, we have both created sectoral awareness and helped companies in the sector acquire a culture of working together.”
Conveying that trials and tests of domestic products for the transition to 5G have been successfully conducted, Sayan stated, “ULAK provides uninterrupted security and emergency communications services through mobile operators with 4.5G connection technologies. With this project, our country has become one of the six countries in the world capable of producing base stations. Infrastructure work continues rapidly for integration into 5G technology, which we aim to transition to by 2026, with domestic and national capabilities. ULAK Communications continues its work aiming to carry the existing 4.5G infrastructure to 5G in the most efficient way. In September last year, the first signal received from the national portable 5G private network system opened the doors to a new era on this path.”
Stating that ensuring the security of 5G and taking necessary measures to eliminate potential risks is of great importance, Sayan concluded his speech by saying, “We are also defending our cyber homeland with our domestic and national software. The National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM), established under BTK under the coordination of our Ministry and described as 'Turkey's cyber fortress,' operates 24/7 with domestic and national software developed entirely from internal corporate resources to develop a cybersecurity understanding nationwide and prevent cyber threats.”
President Karagözoğlu: Steps Taken in 5G and Beyond Technologies Are Opening New Horizons for Our Country
Speaking at the forum, Information Technologies and Communication Authority President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu noted that 5G technology is gaining rapid momentum worldwide, saying, “The global 5G mobile subscriber count, which stood at 1.6 billion in 2023, is expected to reach 2.2 billion by the end of this year. Accordingly, 5G technology is reshaping communication infrastructure.”
Karagözoğlu said, “The digital transformation process has gained great speed worldwide. Especially 5G technology stands before us not only as a communication technology but as one that transforms our lives from beginning to end. As BTK, we are closely following this process and exhibiting a proactive approach to achieve Turkey's digital transformation goals. Our primary goal is to bring the innovations brought by 5G technology to our country and increase our competitiveness in this field. In line with the vision outlined by our President, we are advancing to strengthen our country's technological infrastructure day by day through the National Technology Move.”
Stating that they are conducting awareness studies on the widespread adoption of the 5G ecosystem and the benefits it provides, Karagözoğlu said, “The White Paper prepared in this context guides us in determining our priorities, strategy, and roadmap in 5G and beyond technologies. At the same time, with our other initiative, 5G Valley, we have created an environment in the Ankara region covering the campuses of METU, Bilkent, and Hacettepe Universities and the BTK Main Building where universities, research centers, companies, and startups can test applications and technologies related to 5G and Beyond and create added value. In 2022, we took the trial permission at Istanbul Airport, 'Our Country's Gateway to the World,' one step further by providing citizens with 5G-compatible devices and foreign nationals the opportunity to try 5G.”
Expressing the determination to make Turkey a high-tech production hub in the 101st year of the Republic, Karagözoğlu concluded his speech by saying, “Of course, our domestic and national production strategy is not limited to 5G; we have rolled up our sleeves for 6G technology as well. R&D studies on 5G and beyond technologies play a very important role in our country's digital transformation process. Investments by global companies like Huawei in this field contribute to the development of our domestic ecosystem and strengthen our country's position in global competition. However, we never settle for these studies. Because there is always further ahead, always more. As long as we have the determination to work and achieve.”