Telecoms & IT

After a brief dip following the onset of the global financial crisis, the telecoms sector has made a robust recovery, exceeding pre-crisis subscriber numbers in 2012. The domestic mobile network is now comparable to that of North America and Western Europe, in terms of penetration and services, with fixed-line services already reaching the majority of the population. A heavy tax regime is hampering further growth of the mobile market, but the expansion of mobile broadband services and a huge demand for smartphones have created high growth potential. The young, tech-savvy population is driving demand for new technology, and, as Turkey moves to construct an expansive 4G network across the country by the end of 2016, the mobile market is poised for strong, steady growth. This chapter contains an interview with Hakam Kanafani, CEO Turk Telekom Group, and Faruk Eczacıbaşı, Vice-Chairman, Eczacıbaşı Holding.