Newsroom
A Turkish-based telecommunications company has unveiled plans to invest more than $100 million in upgrading digital infrastructure in the occupied part of Cyprus, aiming to roll out fiber-optic networks and develop 5G services in the area.
Türk Telekom announced the investment during a strategic meeting held in the north, where executives outlined what they described as a long-term roadmap to modernize telecommunications systems and expand digital services.
Company CEO Ebubekir Şahin said the plan focuses on a broad digital transformation, including faster internet infrastructure, wider fiber coverage, and the introduction of next-generation mobile networks. He said the goal is to transfer the company’s technical expertise into the area and support digitalization across key sectors such as health, education, and the economy.
“We are working towards a ‘digital island’ vision,” Şahin said, according to Turkish Cypriot media reports, describing a future where public services and industry are more connected and technology-driven.
The meeting was also attended by Turkey’s representative in the north, Ali Murat Başçeri, referred to in reports as “ambassador,” who highlighted the importance of the project for Ankara’s broader interests in the region. He also pointed to the need to remove obstacles to implementing a protocol signed between Turkey and the local administration, which he said would allow for the modernization of what he described as an outdated telecommunications network.
The announcement comes as Türk Telekom also prepares to launch what it says will be Turkey’s first domestically produced “smart” mobile phone, part of a wider push for technological independence and homegrown innovation.
The planned investments are expected to be rolled out in phases, focusing first on backbone infrastructure upgrades before expanding to consumer-facing services such as high-speed mobile coverage and digital public platforms.
