CHP issues 5G warning: Don't make the public pay the bill!

The authorization tender for mobile electronic communications, services, and infrastructure (5G tender) was held yesterday at the Information Technologies Authority (BTK) building in Ankara. The minimum value for the 5G tender, set at $2.125 billion, has now reached $3.534 billion, including VAT.

CHP Deputy Chairman Ulaş Karasu, who evaluated the tender, made some warnings.

"First of all, this is a very late process. While the world will be using 5G in 2020, we aim to offer this technology to our citizens with a delay," Karasu said. "Even 4G, which the AKP invented as 4.5G, took us eight years to reach Turkey. If we take the statement that 5G will be available starting in April of next year as true, we will have launched 5G with a delay of approximately six years. This is not an exaggeration; the reasons for the delay need to be explained."

Karasu emphasized that in the age of artificial intelligence, high-speed and low-latency communication infrastructure is essential for this technology to reach its full potential, and that one of the most critical components of this infrastructure is the fifth-generation mobile communication technology, or 5G. He said:

While the entire world is rapidly transitioning to this technology, Turkey is just at the beginning of this race. Even Iran switched to 5G in 2020. While Iran doesn't produce this technology, it has started using it. Unfortunately, Turkey is in the 3rd league in this field. In a world where the number of global 5G users has reached 2 billion, the first 5G signal in our country is planned to be received in 2026. This delay could put Türkiye at a disadvantage not only in the field of telecommunications but also in the proliferation of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. The Minister of Transportation states that 5G technology will bring $100 billion to our country in five years. So, why did we wait until now while the entire world was transitioning to this technology? Why were we so late to adopt this technology, which is said to contribute $20 billion to our economy every year?

"WE WILL FOLLOW"

Karasu stated that domestic and national technology production was the central goal behind the late transition to 5G. He emphasized the importance of reducing external dependency and increasing competitiveness in the global market, adding, "We will certainly be following up on this. But first, the political price of the delay must be paid."

Karasu also emphasized the importance of delayed infrastructure investments, noting that in order to provide the basic features of 5G, such as high speed and low latency, new base stations must be established, the existing infrastructure must be comprehensively updated, and the fiber optic infrastructure that will connect the base stations to the main network must be made much larger than it is today.

5G requires significant infrastructure and investment across the country, from Hakkari to Edirne. Fiber infrastructure needs to be strengthened. We know that even this doesn't exist yet in many places. Let me give you an example. Since my constituency is Sivas, I frequently use the high-speed train between Ankara and Sivas. There's no internet on the train, which is operated by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), which is affiliated with the Ministry of Transport, or along the way. There's no internet on the high-speed train either! There's no internet on the highways. There's no mobile phone signal in many places. Even in central Ankara, there are places without phone signal. Of course, the responsibility for this lies not only with the operators who don't invest, but also with the ministry, which doesn't oversee this.

"TWO OF THE THREE OPERATORS ARE THE AKP'S BACKYARD"

Karasu, noting that two of Turkey's three operators are under the control of the AKP, said, "The AKP is employing those it cannot appoint as ministers or bureaucrats to high-level executive positions on the management of Türk Telekom and Turkcell. In other words, these two operators have become the government's backyard. Unfortunately, our country is lagging behind in its technological advancement because the competent, competent, and competent personnel who would bring technology to Turkey are unable to become managers. Producers, businesspeople, companies, and our youth are paying the price for this; in short, we are all paying the price. The responsibility for this lies with the executives who are increasingly losing touch with the realities of the world."

Karasu said, "Since operators have become accustomed to making the public pay for every investment they make, we have no doubt they will once again reach into the pockets of our citizens who use the world's slowest and most expensive internet. Don't let that happen." He continued, "In an age where the entire world is competing with technology, the AKP cannot turn a blind eye to technology. To compete with other countries—even in education, healthcare, and agriculture—we need to utilize technology simultaneously. When we are in power, we will ensure that all our citizens can use the same technology the world uses, simultaneously."