As Türkiye prepares for the official rollout of 5G in 2026, Turkcell demonstrated its technological readiness with a series of groundbreaking demos at TEKNOFEST 2025 in Istanbul. Highlights included remotely controlling a domestically produced electric autonomous vehicle at TÜBİTAK’s Gebze Campus from the Turkcell booth at Atatürk Airport, showcasing the speed, security, and efficiency of 5G.
Turkcell also demonstrated remote operation of construction equipment between Adana and Kocaeli, and earlier this year carried out the first land-to-sea 5G trial in the TRNC. These achievements underscore Turkcell’s leadership in pioneering 5G applications across industries.
General Manager Dr. Ali Taha Koç emphasized that 5G will be transformative beyond speed, revolutionizing transportation, healthcare, education, industry, and smart cities. He said the technology will boost productivity, enable new business models, and strengthen Türkiye’s role as a regional digital hub.
Turkcell has already invested over $28 billion in mobile infrastructure and modernized much of its 4.5G network to support 5G, integrating next-generation base stations and AI-supported network architecture. The company confirmed that 5G services will officially launch in Türkiye on April 1, 2026.
At TEKNOFEST, Turkcell also hosted an interactive competition where participants remotely drove 5G-connected autonomous vehicles to collect points using LIDAR-supported 3D mapping, further engaging the public in next-generation technology.
With its extensive base station network, growing fiber penetration, and decades of expertise, Turkcell says it is both technically and financially ready to lead the country’s 5G era.
