Satellites best answer to Internet censorship criticisms: Turkish minister

MOSCOW - Anadolu Agency

A Russia-built rocket, carrying an upper stage and Türksat-4A Turkish communications satellite is mounted at a launch pad in Baikonur cosmodrome. AFP photo

The launch of Turkey’ fifth satellite is the best answer to claims that the government wants to shut down the Internet with a controversial bill, Turkish Communications Minister Lütfi Elvan has claimed.

Speaking to press in Moscow ahead of a trip to Kazakhstan for the launch of the TÜRKSAT 4A satellite from the renowned Baikonur Space Center, Elvan said the move “clearly demonstrates how important the Internet is for the Turkish government.”

Internet speed in Turkey will increase to 50 megabytes on the heels of the satellites TÜRKSAT 4A and 4B, the minister said.

He also added that all of Africa would be included in the coverage zone of TÜRKSAT 4A, while noting the TÜRKSAT 4B was expected to be launched in the second quarter of the year.

The bill at issue includes controversial arrangements, such as granting the president of the Directorate of Telecommunication (TİB) the authority to block access to sites and pages on his own initiative, in the event of appeals concerning the violation of the right to privacy.

The proposal raised an immediate outcry in Turkish and foreign civil society, with many arguing that the government was intent on gaining more control and surveillance of the Internet, especially in the wake of a damaging corruption probe.