Turkey’s highly anticipated 5G spectrum auction has concluded with impressive results, generating US$2.95 billion in total bids — or US$3.534 billion including VAT — far exceeding the government’s initial minimum revenue target of US$2.125 billion, according to Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
The nation’s three main telecom operators — Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom — secured key frequency blocks across the 700MHz and 3.5GHz bands, setting the stage for the rollout of 5G services across Turkey.
Turkcell emerged as the highest bidder, spending US$429 million on the A1 block in the 700MHz band and acquiring four additional blocks in the 3.5GHz range, with total bids reaching US$1.22 billion. Türk Telekom followed closely with US$1.1 billion in winning bids, including the A3 package worth US$425 million. Vodafone, meanwhile, secured the A2 block for US$426 million, along with a 3.5GHz block, for a total of US$627 million.
The Turkish government confirmed that 5G services will go live on 1 April 2026, starting in major cities and expanding nationwide within just over a year. “The rollout will begin in densely populated areas and gradually extend to the entire country,” Minister Uraloglu stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to strengthening digital connectivity and innovation.
The tender also extended the authorization for existing 2G and 3G services — originally set to expire in 2029 — until the end of 2042, with operators required to pay 5% of their annual sales from these services to the national Treasury.
The last spectrum auction took place in 2015, when operators paid roughly US$4.66 billion (including VAT) for 4.5G frequencies, underscoring the significance of this new milestone in Turkey’s journey toward a fully connected digital future.
