Operators make first payments for 4.5G technologies in Turkey

A total of 2 billion euros has been paid to the Treasury by the telecommunication companies which won a tender for the launch of advanced 4.5G technologies in Turkey.

The companies have also taken their authorization certifications - dubbed IMT-Advanced certificates - after making their first payment in line with the contract in a ceremony with the attendance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an. 

Turkey's three existing mobile operators, Turkcell, Vodafone and Avea, won the rights to the country's advanced 4G network, dubbed 4.5G in Turkey, due to be established for a sum of more than 3.9 billion euros in the Aug. 26 tender held by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). 

In the tender, Turkcell offered around 1.9 billion euros for eight packages and Avea offered 1.1 billion euros for five packages, while Vodafone offered $918 million euros. 

While one of the companies made the first payment in cash, the other two preferred to make their payments in installments, although all of them paid value-added taxes. 

"The upgrade of the mobile telecommunications network to 4.5G technologies is expected to earn over $5 billion, contributing to our goal of becoming a technology producing country as well as an advanced consumer society," said Erdo?an during his keynote speech. 

Transport, Maritime and Communications Minister Feridun Bilgin said a new era has begun for Turkey's information technologies with the delivery of the IMT-Advanced authorizations. 

While the number of mobile phone subscribers had been around 14.7 million in Turkey previously, this figure rose to 73 million as of this September, he said, adding the number of broadband internet subscribers increased to 47 million...