 | This page'sinfoboxmay require expansion, verification, or otherwise need cleanup. Please ensure it meetsWikipedia's guidelines. Relevant discussion may be found on thetalk page. You may also want to view the infobox template page to see the full parameter list and get guidance on the usage of that infobox.(December 2012) |
| Communications of Turkey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Telephones main lines in use: | 16.5 million, 18th in world (2009),[1] 12.3 million (Q3 2020) |
| Telephones mobile cellular: | 62.8 million, 17th in world (2009),[1] 80 million (2018),[2] 82.2 million (Q3 2020) |
| Telephone system: |
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| International service: |
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| Country calling code: | 90 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 102, shortwave 1 (2014) |
| Radios: | 11.3 million (1997)[needs update] |
| Television broadcast stations: | 635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)[needs update] |
| Televisions: | 20.9 million (1997)[needs update] |
| Internet country code: | .tr |
| Internet hosts: | 3.4 million (2010)[1] |
| Internet Service Providers ISPs: | 50 (2001) |
| Internet users: | 27.2 million (2009),[1] 46 million (2016),[3] 80.9 million (Q3 2020) |
Telecommunications in Turkey provides information about television, radio, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet inTurkey.
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Thetelecommunicationsliberalisation process started in Turkey in 2004 after the creation of the Telecommunication Authority, and is still ongoing as of May 2013.Private sector companies operate inmobile telephony,long distance telephony andInternet access. There were 12.3 million (12.300.390) fixedphone lines, 82.2 million (82.795.432)mobile phone subscribers, and 80.9 millionbroadband subscribers (10.6 million xDSL, 3.8 million Fibre, 1.2 million Cable, 65 million Mobile) by Q3 2020.[4]
Telecommunications liberalisation in Turkey is progressing, but at a slow pace. The Telecommunication Authority (now renamed Bilgi İletişim ve Teknolojileri Kurumu orBTK), while technically an independent organization, is still controlled by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.[5]
While progress is being made (for example, local as well aslong distance calls are now open to competition), theincumbent has so far managed in many areas to restrict access and protect itsmonopoly. For example,wholesale line rental is still not available to alternative operators, making it necessary forsubscribers to pay two bills (one for line rental to the incumbent, and one to the chosen operator). The incumbent has so far managed to prevent any operator from connecting its ownfiber optic cable at local loop unbundling exchanges, though it is technically required to allow this. Recently, the incumbent announced it is acquiringInvitel, one of only two other players in the inter-city capacity business, raising questions as to how the Turkish Competition Board will treat the acquisition.
The lack of progress by the BTK in ensuring a competitive playing field can be evidenced by themarket share the incumbent still holds. In broadband, the incumbent'sprovider still occupies roughly 95%share of the market. The Governmental Audit Office of the President (T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Denetleme Kurulu) issued a highly critical report of the BTK in February 2010, listing 115 findings to be addressed. For example, the report found #20 points out that the BTK has completed only 50% to 78% of its stated work plans in each of the years from 2005 to 2008.[6]
Alternative operators are rapidly growing, yet much progress needs to be made by the BTK to improve the competitive landscape.
The political authority isMinistry of Transport, Maritime and Communication (Turkey) . But there are also two supreme councils;Radio and Television Supreme Council (abbreviated RTÜK) andInformation and Communication Technologies Authority (abbreviated BTK). While internet and point to point telecommunication is controlled by BTK, radio and television broadcast is controlled by RTÜK.
In January 2021Daily Sabah reported thatSamsung had started local manufacture a line of mobile phones in Turkey. Samsung is the leader of the Turkish mobile market with 40% market share.[7] Chinese firmOppo released their first Made in Turkey smartphone in March 2021 with a retail price around $346. The phone has 64 GB storage, microSD support, 6.5" display and a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset.[8]
In 2017, the Turkish government introduced a requirement for all mobile phones to be registered in order to access Turkish mobile networks; both the user's details as well as the phone'sIMEI must be provided.[9][10] Phones that are used in the country for less than 120 days cumulatively are exempted from the registration requirement.[9] This registration requirement "allows the government to track users’ calls, messages, and other phone activities to prevent illegal or dangerous content."[9]
Registering a mobile phone purchased abroad also requires the payment of a fee, which is₺31,692 as of January 2024[update] (about US$930).[11] As of 2024[update], Turkish citizens living abroad are allowed to use foreign-purchases phones for up to 180 days in-country without paying the fee, although registration within 120 days is still required.[11]
The registration fees for foreign mobile phones have increased very rapidly since 2017.[12] Due to high fees and taxes, as of 2023[update] some smartphones cost nearly twice as much as they do in North America and Europe.[13]
| Date of introduction | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017[when?] - November 2018[14] | TL 150 (about US$41) |
| November 2018[14] | TL 500 (about US$103.55) |
| 20 July 2019[14] | TL 1500 (about US$88.12) |
| 2022[when?][12] | TL 2,732 (about US$165.09) |
| January 2023[15][12] | TL 6091 (about US$256.85) |
| Prior to January 2024[11] | TL 20,000 (about US$843.36) |
| January 2024[11] | TL 31,692 (about US$930) |
| January 2025[15] | TL 45,614 (about US$1,327.98) |
