Turkish Internet subscribers up 126 percent over four years thanks to boost in mobile

Turan Yılmaz – ANKARA

REUTERS photo

The number of Internet subscribers in Turkey has increased by 126 percent over the past four years, according to data from the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), which also pointed to a sharp rise in mobile Internet use. 

The number of subscribers increased from 27 million in 2012 to 62 million in 2016 and 2 million new subscribers were added in the first quarter of 2017, the BTK stated in response to a query from independent MP Aylin Nazlıaka.

The number of fixed Internet subscribers, which stood at 7.9 million in 2012, increased by 33 percent to nearly 10.9 million, it added. 

In 2016, the number of mobile Internet users rose to 51.7 million from 19.7 million in 2012. Some 90 percent of the 2016 subscribers were corporate clients and 10 percent were individual.

Sharing the information with the media, Nazlıaka said that despite the sharp increase in the number of Internet subscribers, measures against cyberattacks and fraud continued to fall short. 

“When the data is analyzed it is seen that this increase will continue in the coming years,” she said.

“But while the number of individual, mobile and corporate Internet subscribers is rapidly increasing, this brings some risks. Cyberattacks have begun to pose a serious threat. Individual fraud incidents, especially over mobile Internet networks, have reached incredible dimensions,” she added.

Nazlıaka cited a July report by the International Telecom Union (ITU), saying the body listed Turkey as being among the 77 countries that still have much to do in terms of cybersecurity. Only 22 member states were marked as in being in a good condition in terms of cyber safety, while 96 countries were marked as unsafe, she added. 

“Security in the age of communication is a serious matter. The government should not shut its eyes to this striking data and it should urgently take measures,” she said.