Türk Telekom CEO Ümit Önal: "We offer 1 Gbps access speed to more than 9 million households."

Answering questions from members of the press in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Önal emphasized that Türk Telekom leads pioneering projects with the responsibility of being the region's technology carrier, and expressed great pleasure in contributing to the TRNC's digital transformation with a high-speed fiber infrastructure investment in line with this vision.

"IT IS A FIBERALIZATION CAMPAIGN"

Önal, explaining that they are preparing to provide the TRNC with high-speed fiber internet infrastructure, said, "We will implement a high-speed fiber internet transformation to strengthen the digital backbone of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This project we are implementing is a fiberization campaign that will support the digitalization of every aspect of life in the TRNC."

Önal stated that Türk Telekom is carrying out work that guides the digital transformation of Türkiye and the region, and noted the following:

As we bring the opportunities of the digital age to every corner of the region, we contribute to building the future through investments in innovative technologies. As part of our vision of reducing external dependency on digitalization and technology, we are carrying out pioneering work that will add value to the national economy. With the goal of developing innovative technologies, we are undertaking work that will define the strategies of the future.

Önal stated that they continue to be the flag bearer of the country's technology exports with their activities in every field, from digital to infrastructure, fiber to mobile.

"A GREAT PRIDE FOR US"

Önal, stating that Türk Telekom is at the center of an ecosystem that simultaneously develops and exports technology, continued:

With our sense of national responsibility, we are leading the way in creating milestones that ensure digitalization for our country, while also fulfilling our responsibility as the technology carrier of our region. With our fiber network reaching 482,000 kilometers across Turkey and fiber home coverage reaching 33.2 million, we support the digitalization of individuals, institutions, and the public, while transforming our infrastructure strength into a strategic advantage for implementing 5G and next-generation technologies. With our robust fiber infrastructure guiding Türkiye's digital transformation, we offer 1 Gbps access speed to more than 9 million households across the country, while providing an average connection speed exceeding 358 Mbps across Turkey.

Önal emphasized that they support the digitalization of individuals, institutions, and the public with their fiber network reaching 482,000 kilometers, and that they will now provide the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with a high-speed fiber internet infrastructure.

Önal stated that they have undertaken projects that accelerate digital transformation in every corner of Türkiye, and that they have built Türkiye's digital backbone with their speed, coverage, and infrastructure strengths.

Önal said, "According to the latest report published by the FTTH Council Europe, Turkey has become one of the five fastest-growing markets in Europe for fiber infrastructure. The report revealed that we have a 76.9% coverage rate in FTTH/B (fiber to the home/building) access, exceeding the European average of 74.6%. Furthermore, as of the date of the report, the number of FTTH/B subscribers in Türkiye increased by 1.2 million in the last 12 months, and we are very proud that Türk Telekom alone accounted for 0.9 million of this increase."

"WE ARE CARRYING THE REGION'S DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE"

Önal emphasized that they have transformed their infrastructure strength into a strategic advantage for implementing 5G and next-generation technologies, and made the following assessments:

We've connected 54% of our LTE base stations to fiber. This figure exceeds the global target for 2030. We're also undertaking pioneering work in the 5G field across a wide range of areas, including remote surgery, smart agriculture, smart transportation, culture, arts, and sports. We view 5G not merely as a technological transition but as a crucial tool that will carry our country to a stronger future.

Türk Telekom International, the company responsible for Türk Telekom's international wholesale voice and data infrastructure sales and marketing activities, operates internationally from 135 locations across 24 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In this regard, TT International is building a strategic digital bridge between countries, ensuring the uninterrupted, secure, and high-capacity flow of data traffic. With a backbone extending to 24 countries, we are positioning ourselves as an operator that carries the digital infrastructure not only of Türkiye but also of the region.

Önal, reminding us that the fixed internet privilege renewal process has reached its final stages, said, "We are not, and never have been, trying to manipulate public opinion on this matter. We submitted our application for fixed internet privilege renewal within the legal deadline. We are managing the process by working with the relevant authorities and ministries. This is now in its final stages."

Önal stated, "As the founder, developer, and operator of Türkiye's fixed internet infrastructure throughout the concession period, we are already saddled with this mission. We act with the understanding that every investment Türk Telekom makes is an investment in Türkiye and our future. We approach the concession from this perspective and view it as our national responsibility. As Türk Telekom, there's a truth we've been emphasizing for years: Our infrastructure is Türkiye's infrastructure."

Source: AA