16.1.2017
Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), attended the workshop of the EU-Supported Technical Assistance Project.
BTK President Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan delivered a speech at the workshop held at the Ankara Hilton Hotel to share the outputs of the "Technical Assistance Project for Transition to the Information Society and Promotion of High-Speed Broadband Services," which is in the completion phase, and to evaluate its results. Participants included representatives from the consulting firm, the EU Ministry, the Central Finance and Tender Unit, the EU Delegation to Turkey, as well as BTK Vice President Rıdvan Kahveci, Head of Access and Tariffs Department Serhat Erkoç, and sector representatives.
WE WILL INCREASE THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION BY DEVELOPING COST MODELS
In the workshop, Sayan touched upon key topics for the electronic communications sector, such as the development of cost models for fixed and mobile network operators' current and potential next-generation networks and the establishment of wholesale pricing mechanisms. He stated, “A long-term process has been conducted with valuable contributions from our operators. Public and operator opinions have been solicited both in the data collection phase from operators and in the model design phase, and intensive joint meetings have been held. In this way, methods have been developed to determine service costs in the most accurate manner. As a result, our operators will be able to generate the necessary revenues for the establishment of next-generation networks and the expansion of broadband services, while our consumers will access the services they need at appropriate prices. Service providers other than network owners will also find an effective and sustainable competitive environment that provides them with room to operate. Thus, we will take important steps to raise the level of competition in the market.”
IMPORTANT STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO CREATE A FAIR COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
Noting that efficient work has been carried out under the project on the second main topic, "Market Analyses," Sayan said, “In this context, the opinions and recommendations of our consultants have been taken on reviewing relevant market definitions in line with European Commission decisions and recommendations, identifying operators with significant market power in those markets, and defining obligations to be imposed on these operators. These recommendations will be taken into account in ongoing market analysis processes as well as in future processes. Thus, important steps will be taken to create a fair competitive environment in the electronic communications sector.”
REFERENCE OFFERS WILL BE UPDATED
Reminding that another topic addressed under the project was reference offers, Sayan stated, “Reference access and interconnection offers published within the framework of obligations imposed on operators with significant market power define the basic terms and conditions for access agreements to be signed between operators, thereby facilitating market entry and providing clarity and transparency on market conditions. With this study, it will be possible to review the reference offers that have been in practice in our country for a long time and update them to meet current needs.”
NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED
Touching on the last project topic, "Development of the National Broadband Plan," Sayan said, “Today, countries are competing with each other to increase broadband penetration and remove barriers to access to information. Like every country, our country has important targets for this purpose. To progress toward these targets in a healthy manner, the responsibilities of all stakeholders need to be reviewed, new targets and responsibilities defined, and the project outputs taken seriously.
It is important to expand the networks that will provide broadband services and make them accessible to all segments of society. It is also important for consumers to use these services with different alternatives and at reasonable prices. In addition, we believe it is necessary to evaluate all suggestions that will support the goal of becoming part of the information society by keeping information highways open at all times. In collaboration with our sector representatives, we will do our best to bring our country to the best position toward this goal.”
WE WILL IMPLEMENT THE MOST SUITABLE REGULATORY PRACTICES FOR OUR COUNTRY
Stating that thoroughly examining every evaluation report provided under the project and implementing the most suitable regulatory practices for our country will be among the most important items in the upcoming work plan, Sayan said, “We expect significant contributions, especially in determining the optimal balance point that reflects market dynamics in the cost model outputs. Following steps such as checking cost model inputs and data, reviewing assumptions, and making time-dependent updates, the necessary steps will be taken to apply the project outputs to our market in the most appropriate way. Thus, in the coming period, we will see together reasonable fees expected by consumers, the accumulation opportunities necessary for investments expected by operators, and regulatory examples that ensure effective and sustainable competition coming into effect.”
WE ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE FIXED BROADBAND ACCESS PRICING MODEL
Explaining that BTK is also working on renewing market analyses, updating reference offers thereafter, and improving the fixed broadband access pricing model, Sayan said, “As our sector representatives closely follow, the port and transmission model as the fixed broadband access pricing method started to be used by all operators as of last year. After this model, preferred to align access fees with costs and implement cost-based pricing, is fully put into practice, our operators are completing their studies on its impacts on the sector and sending them to us. While our studies continue in this framework, we have taken steps to make some improvements regarding the fair usage point (FUP) due to intense demands from our consumers. We are evaluating the views of the sector, consumer representatives, and different units of our Institution on this matter. However, (personally my greatest) curiosity is how the project outputs will affect these studies. The project outputs have been addressed in many of the studies we have been conducting for a long time. The project outputs will soon be delivered to our Institution and will have results such as shifting many market dynamics to new equilibrium points. In this regard, I want to express that we are experiencing a separate excitement as an Institution.”
Sayan thanked the Central Finance and Tender Unit of the Undersecretariat of Treasury and the EU Delegation to Turkey for their support throughout all stages of the project and their great contributions to its realization; the operator representatives for their valuable contributions during the implementation of the project; the consultants for striving to provide top-quality service; and the Institution's employees for their intense efforts both in the project application and during its implementation.
"SHOOT-AND-SEND" VIDEO CONTEST FOR STUDENTS
At the end of his speech, Sayan announced that BTK has organized a "Shoot-and-Send" Video Contest titled “Are You Online! Are You Safe?” for students from 5th to 12th grade across Turkey to raise awareness among young people and children about using the internet more consciously. He stated that all young people who fill out the application form on www.gim.org.tr and send their 60-second videos can participate in the contest, and winners will receive education scholarships.
CYBER STAR CONTEST STARTS ON JANUARY 20
Sayan also announced that to unleash the potential of young people in our country with high aptitude in cybersecurity and meet the need for experts, a Cyber Star contest is being organized for patriotic young people who want to contribute to our country's cyber defense and participate in training and camps in this field without graduation or experience requirements. The contest will start on January 20, 2017, via the www.siberyildiz.com website and continue for 24 hours, ending on January 21.