Turkcell ready for 3G tender
Posted by meb at September 23rd, 2008
Turkcell, the country’s largest mobile-phone operator, is preparing for the launch of a tender for third generation, or 3G, mobile phone licenses in Turkey, according to Koray Öztürkler, Turkcell’s chief corporate affairs officer in charge of corporate communications and investor relations.
“3G is an important development and we hope the tender will take place this year. We are preparing for this. We are thinking of launching 3G services after the tender period, within months,” he told reporters in Istanbul yesterday.
Turkey held a 3G tender last year, however, Turkcell was the only bidder and the tender offer was cancelled. The cabinet decision to again launch a tender for 3G mobile phone licenses was published in the Official Gazette on Thursday of last week. However, no definite date for the tender has yet been set. According to the announcement, the minimum value of the ‘A License’ is 285 million euros, while the ‘B License’ has been valued at 250 million euros, and the price for the ‘C License’ is 214 million euros, and 178 million euros for the ‘D License.’
Turkish mobile phone users will also soon be able to switch telephone operators without having to change their mobile numbers. This number portability feature is expected to come into force in November or, at latest, by the end of 2008. The new system has been long awaited by Turkcell’s competitors, Vodaphone and Avea, neither of whom participated in the 3G tender last year.
Turkcell will be the main sponsor of the CeBIT Bilişim Eurasia fair, which will take place between 7-12 October at the TÜYAP fair center in Beylikdüzü. Last year, some 140,000 guests visited the fair. “Hopefully, this year we will exceed this figure,” Öztürkler said.
source: Turkish Daily News
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