One of Turkey’s leading telecommunication companies Turkcellon the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) explanation made. Business, Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK) has announced that it has entered into a new agreement with This agreement was related to the extension of the GSM (2G) concession agreement.

In Turkcell’s statements, the renewal of the agreement is charged 141.6 million euros was mentioned. 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 25 years in 1998. Now this time extended for another 6 years.

Turkcell’s statement on KAP is as follows:

Following the application by our company within the legal deadline for the extension 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 under the “Procedures and principles related to the determination of renewal terms” April 30, 2029 has informed 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) is decided. A total of EUR 81.6 million, equivalent to EUR 1.7 billion, corresponding to the deposit of the above-mentioned time extension fee and all VAT, has been paid today in cash and the remaining amount has been paid in two equal installments of EUR 31.1 million (April 30, 2024 and April 30, 2024) It will be paid within 2 years (on April 2025). Following payment, it is envisaged that the amendment agreements will be signed as part of the completion of the regulatory approval processes and the renewal of the GSM franchise agreement. Developments in this area will be shared with the public in the near future.

What is this in Turkish?

As we just mentioned, Turkcell is in Turkey with this move. until 2029 will provide 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 are no longer licensed for 2G. As a result, countries are quickly switching to 5G. Japan and South Korea countries like the 2030s will have made the switch to 6G. While all this is happening, we’re 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 2016 statement, the use of 2G will end in 2026 and 3G in 2029. had announced. In other words, according to the then statement, Turkey would be completely 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 disasters how they let us down We saw.

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

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