Turkcell, Aselsan ink deal to develop joint 5G technology projects

ISTANBUL

Turkey’s biggest mobile operator Turkcell and defense company Aselsan signed a framework agreement to develop joint projects in 5G technologies, Turkcell said in a written statement July 6. 

“Main aim of the deal is to enable Turkey to become a 5G technologies producing country. To realize this target, two local companies, Turkcell and Aselsan, will work together to develop a road map in 5G technologies. For the commercial success of the planned products, both companies will work together in local and global markets,” read the statement. 

“We have achieved establishing the strongest 3G technologies infrastructure not only in Turkey, but also in the world. Turkcell has become the first and only mobile operator which supports 63.3 Mbps, the highest 3G speed in the world, both on the infrastructural side and in mobile phones with Turkcell Turbo T50, by increasing the speed of the 3G technologies by three-fold,” said Turcell CEO Kaan Terzioğlu, adding that the company has completed its tests for 4G technologies. 

“With Aselsan, we’ll make Turkey a hub for the future’s 5G technologies, we believe,” he noted. 

Aselsan, which has already undertaken the 4G/LTE Communication System Development Project (ULAK Project) to develop local 4G technologies, will become the most competent partner in the preparation, design, production and launch process of the 5G technologies, said Aselsan General Manager Dr. Faik Eken. 

The planned tender for 4G Internet technology has been delayed for three months, the Information and Communications Technologies Authority (BTK) said in a statement on May 15.

The BTK announced that the tender will be made on Aug. 26 this year, after a three-month delay.

The announcement follows President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s harsh criticism of 4G technology, saying Turkey should skip directly from a 3G network to 5G one in two years.