The launch of eSIM technology, produced entirely with domestic and national resources, was held under the auspices of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority.
The program was attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu, Deputy Minister Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Chairman of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, and bureaucrats.
In his speech, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu stated, “Due to the pandemic, restrictions on going out, the necessity of remote education, trade, and work have increased demand and capacity usage in digital access and communication. In 2020, the growth rate of our information sector approached 14%. As of the last month of 2020, our fiber line length exceeded 413 thousand kilometers, and our fixed broadband subscriber count surpassed 15.8 million. The number of fiber subscribers in fixed infrastructures approached 3.8 million. More than 92% of the mobile subscriber count, which has reached 82.8 million, started using 4.5G service in the last three years.”
Minister Karaismailoğlu: Turkey's Sensitive Data Will Be Completely Under Our Country's Control
Drawing attention to the importance of domestic and national production, Karaismailoğlu said, “In the coming period, by launching our new communication satellites Türksat 5A and Türksat 5B along with our first domestic and national satellite Türksat 6A into space, we will take important steps in communication and information in terms of domestic and national aspects. Additionally, we are proudly introducing to the public the 100% domestic and national eSIM application developed by our own engineers at today's program.”
Minister Karaismailoğlu also briefly mentioned the benefits provided by eSIM technologies: “The eSIM infrastructure has been developed with domestic and national resources in compliance with international standards, and we have taken our place at the forefront among countries that develop their own necessary software within the scope of eSIM. Thus, Turkey's sensitive data will be completely under Turkey's control. eSIM will have a wide range of uses from smartphones today to wearable technologies, machine-to-machine communication (M2M), and many industrial products.”
Deputy Minister Sayan: We Are Taking an Important Step in Mobile Communication with eSIM
Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan also spoke about the importance of eSIM in his speech. Sayan stated, “We are taking another important step in mobile communication by using eSIM, which can be loaded remotely onto devices, instead of the physical SIM cards that have been used in mobile telecommunications for over 25 years. eSIM brings many benefits and advantages not only for the information and communication sector but also for all other sectors. Since we are in an era where almost everything can be connected to the internet today. We are increasingly using mobile technology in transactions where we are connected everywhere and always. Therefore, eSIM will provide great conveniences in our lives in every area from household appliances to devices in our workplaces.”
Speaking also about satellite ground stations, Sayan said, “We aim to turn our country into a hub for satellite ground stations. With the ‘BTK Satellite Valley Project,’ the installation of three satellite ground stations in Konya has been completed. In Ankara, we have initiated the installation process for two satellite ground stations. We invite international satellite operators to invest in our country.”
Chairman Karagözoğlu: eSIM Will Have Important Advantages for Consumers
Information Technologies and Communication Authority Chairman Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu stated in his speech, “The eSIM application brings important conveniences and advantages both for industry in machine-to-machine communication and for consumers. eSIM offers a technology that can be loaded and managed remotely on a secure chip. Operator profile information can be loaded and managed remotely via software without inserting a physical SIM card into devices.” He also mentioned that it provides security and protection levels equivalent to those of physical SIM cards.
Following the opening speeches, Minister Karaismailoğlu made calls using the phone with the eSIM application to Kule AŞ Technical Operations Director Burhan Kandemir, ERG Traffic Road Safety Manager Mustafa Akbaş from the Ankara-Niğde Highway Main Control Center, and Captain Orhan Kasap of the Malta-flagged ship "Atlantis Alhambra."