Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu took stock of the 32nd anniversary of the launch of mobile networks in Turkey.
Sharing the information that the first commercial 1G network was launched in Japan in 1979 by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), Uraloğlu said: “32 years have passed since the first mobile phone call in Türkiye, which occurred on February 23, 1994, when then-Prime Minister Tansu Çiller called then-President Süleyman Demirel. The digital mobile communication that began with this call changed that Life in Türkiye is radical.” So Türkiye said: “It has taken the first steps of the digital GSM era of analog car phones.”
Minister Uraloğlu reminded that February 23, 1994 was the day that cellular networks were put into operation in Türkiye and said that Çiller's call to Demirel symbolized the moment when the deployment of 2G (digital GSM) technology began in Türkiye.
Pointing out that Türkiye took the first step in the field of mobile communications in 1991 with 1G technology used through car phones, Uraloğlu said, “Internet use in Türkiye began in 1993, while 2G technology, which enables voice calls, data transmission and sending short messages (SMS) through mobile phones, was put into operation in 1994.” he said.
Uraloğlu stated that 3G services began operating in the country in 2009 and that Türkiye switched to 3G as both data and voice became more important.
The transition from 4.5G to 5G begins on April 1st
Emphasizing that the 4.5G service was activated on April 1, 2016 and a significant increase in mobile internet speeds was achieved, Uraloğlu continued as follows:
“With the introduction of 4.5G services, there has been a significant leap forward in mobile Internet and data access. Turkey has received new opportunities that increase the Internet speed on mobile devices by 10 times thanks to 4.5G technology. Türkiye has only a few days left to use 5G technology, which will provide data transfer speeds of 20 gigabits per second. Turkey is preparing for a major change in mobile communications technology on April 1 The work has been carried out for many years and by 3 operators won 11 bids in the tender of October 16, 2025. “The 5G technology for which we acquired the frequency package will be available to users on April 1.” The process from 1G to 5G has clearly shown how communication technologies have evolved. Mobile phones have become an infrastructure that is transforming not only communications but also business, education, economics and social life in our lives.”
Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the development of mobile networks in Türkiye is not only a technological advancement but also has a lasting impact on social life and economic activities.
Stating that speed will be the most important factor in the transition to 5G, Uraloğlu said: “In the third quarter of 2025, we reached 98.2 million broadband Internet subscribers in our country. Another critical threshold was left with 4.5G, the latest technology used before the transition to 5G. The number of 4.5G subscribers exceeded 91 million for the first time. 226 mobile subscribers in Turkey, 91 million 99,1845 of them were 4.5G customers. In addition, our fiber investments continue to provide healthy 4.5G services to our citizens. In this context, the total fiber length of operators reached in the third quarter of 2025.
“With 5G, we as a nation will experience high speed”
Uraloğlu stated that they continue to work to further strengthen the communication and communications sector in Türkiye and that the most concrete example of this is the transition to 5G technology.
Uraloğlu emphasized that communication speeds will increase significantly after the transition to 5G:
“With new technology, games can now be played uninterrupted and faster over the Internet. Remote operations will be possible. Deliveries will now be faster for our citizens and our industry.”
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