Turkey plans to launch a long-awaited 5G frequency tender in October with initial service expected to be available in 2026, its transport and infrastructure minister said on Tuesday.
Abdulkadir Uraloglu said Turkey had consulted with its three major telecom operators and studied global 5G models, particularly in Europe.
All three operators – government-controlled Turkcell and Turk Telekom along with Vodafone’s Turkish unit – are expected to take part in the tender.
“We aim to publish the tender specifications this month and hold the tender in October,” he said in a ministry statement. “Our goal is to expand 5G across the entire country within a few years after the initial signal is received in 2026.”
Uraloglu had previously said he hoped to hold the tender in August.
According to a presidential decree published on Turkey’s official gazette on Saturday, the tender will include 11 frequency packages across the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands, with individual package values ranging from $50 million to $425 million.