Turkcell Will Continue to Offer ‘2G’ Connection Until 2029

One of Turkey’s leading telecommunication companies Turkcellon the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) explanation made. Company, Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTKannounced that it has signed a new agreement with This agreement was related to the extension of the GSM (2G) Concession Agreement.

In the statements made by Turkcell, the agreement extension fee 141.6 million euros was stated. With this agreement, the brand will be able to offer 2G connectivity to its customers until 2029. Turkcell signed this agreement for the first time in 1998 for 25 years. Now this time extended for another 6 years.

Turkcell’s statement on KAP is as follows:

Upon the application made by our Company within the legal period regarding the extension of the duration of the GSM (2G) Concession Agreement, which is valid until April 27, 2023 and signed by our Company with the Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK), the BTK declared the “Duration of GSM Concession Agreements and GSM 1800 Concession Agreement”. The duration of the GSM Concession Agreement within the framework of the “Procedures and Principles Regarding the Determination of Extension Conditions” April 30, 2029 has notified our Company in writing that it has been decided to extend it until the deadline and to continue using the frequencies allocated to Turkcell in the 900 MHz band. Within the framework of the relevant procedures and principles, the time extension fee 120 million Euros (+ 21.6 million Euros VAT) has been determined. A total of 81.6 million Euros corresponding to the down payment of the aforementioned time extension fee and the entire VAT amounting to 1.7 billion TRY has been paid in cash today, and the remaining amount has been paid in two equal installments of 31.1 million Euros (April 30, 2024 and 30 April 2024). It will be paid within 2 years (on April 2025). Following the payment, it is envisaged that the amendment agreements will be signed within the scope of the completion of the legal approval processes and the extension of the GSM Concession Agreement. Developments on the subject will be shared with the public in the coming periods.

So what is this in Turkish?

As we have just mentioned, Turkcell is in Turkey with this move. until 2029 will offer 2G connectivity support to its customers. In other words, in places where 4G or 3G is not available, Turkcell will be the only operator that can be used if a similar move does not come from other operators. So something like this really? was it necessary?

It is rather strange to sign an agreement worth billions of TL for 2G at a time when 5G continues to spread and the first fruits of 6G appear. So much so that many telecommunications companies around the world no longer license 2G. As a result, countries are rapidly transitioning to 5G. Japan and South Korea countries such as the 2030s will have made the transition to 6G. While all this is happening, we are talking about 2G..

In the past, it was said that 2G would be shut down in 2026.

Acting as Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Omer Fatih SayanIn a statement made in 2016, it will end the use of 2G in 2026 and 3G in 2029. had announced. In other words, according to the statement made at that time, Turkey would completely get rid of 2G after a few years. However, the last point we have reached is that won’t happen reveals. At the point we have reached today, mobile operators in Turkey, especially in natural disaster events how they let us down We saw.

For those wondering: Türkiye’s 5G coverage map is as follows

• NOTE: The contract, which Turkcell has decided to renew, will expire in 2023 for Vodafone and 2026 for Türk Telekom. These two companies have not yet taken any action on the subject.