Information and Communications Technologies Authority

Ömer Fatih Sayan was appointed the head of the Information and Communications Technologies Authority (BTK) on Aug. 25, ahead of a key telecommunications tender on Aug. 26.

Asset management companies, which have already been de-facto managing the non-performing loans of the ten largest banks in Turkey, have now set their eyes on unpaid telecommunication, natural gas and water bills, according to an exclusive report in daily Dünya. 

Turkey did not cancel a planned 4G tender, but will make a 4.5G tender on Aug. 26, a high-level official from the Information and Communications Technologies Authority (BTK) has told Anadolu Agency. 

Turkey should rush to ensure it is part of a discussion about the future of 5G patents in Europe, the former head of Turkey?s Information and Communications Technologies Authority (BTK) has warned.

Tayfun Acarer said 5G technology standards are determined by a European pool called ?METIS,? urging Turkey to be included in the pool.

Turkey has an urgent need for more mobile frequencies to meet a skyrocketing demand for broadband services and the required steps should be taken immediately to open the way for such investments, said Hasan Süel, the vice chairman of Vodafone Turkey's executive board. 

Turkey's biggest mobile operator Turkcell and defense company Aselsan signed a framework agreement to develop joint projects in 5G technologies, Turkcell said in a written statement July 6. 

The planned tender for 4G Internet technology has been delayed for three months, the Information and Communications Technologies Authority (BTK) said in a statement on May 15.

The BTK announced that the tender will be made on Aug. 26 this year, after a three-month delay.

Turkish authorities have blocked access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube over their initial refusal to remove photos of a prosecutor who was taken hostage by militants in Istanbul. After hours, the ban on Facebook and Twitter has been been lifted as both websites complied with the court ruling.

Turkish authorities have blocked access to Twitter, YouTube and Facebook over the publication of photos published on the three social media platforms showing a prosecutor who was taken hostage by militants in Istanbul last week.

Turks spent more than 35.5 billion Turkish Liras ($13.3 billion) on telecommunications last year, up from 32.2 billion liras ($12.2 billion) in 2013, according to a report released by the Information and Communications Technologies Authority (BTK) on March 27.

Over 80 percent of the amount spent went on Turkey's top four telecommunication companies, the report stated.