Turkcell leads $2.945 Billion 5G Tender in Turkey, launch Expected in 2026
ANKARA – Turkey’s 5G spectrum tender concluded with Turkcell emerging as teh highest bidder, securing key frequencies and committing $1.224 billion. the auction, finalized today, saw a total of $2.945 billion (excluding VAT) committed by the three major operators – Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom – slightly below the estimated $2.1 billion price tag.
The triumphant allocation of 5G frequencies marks a pivotal moment for Turkey’s digital infrastructure, promising faster mobile speeds and enabling next-generation technologies. The tender results will impact all turkish mobile users, businesses, and the country’s broader economic competitiveness. Service delivery utilizing the newly acquired frequencies is slated too begin on April 1, 2026.
Turkcell secured the A1 package and first pick of bands, choosing the 723-733 MHz and 778-788 MHz ranges. Vodafone won the A2 package and selected 713-723 MHz and 768-778 MHz. Türk Telekom, with the third-highest bid, acquired the A3 package and the 703-713 MHz and 758-768 mhz ranges. Beyond frequency allocation, Turkcell also secured packages A1, B1, B4, B5, and B6, while Türk Telekom won A3, B2, B7, and B8, and vodafone received A2 and B3.
The winning bids where as follows: Turkcell at $1.224 billion, Türk Telekom at $1.094 billion,and Vodafone at $627 million. The total payment will be made in three equal installments, with a delay interest of twice the annual rate of 7.93 percent applied to late or incomplete payments. Failure to remit payment, even with interest, within 30 days could result in the revocation of authorization by the BTK (Information and Dialog technologies Authority).
Moreover, operators will be required to pay 5 percent of their gross sales annually to incorporate existing authorizations expiring on April 30, 2029, into the 5G framework.The authorization period for the newly acquired spectrum will extend until December 31, 2042.
