At the ceremony, 3 types of licences have been distributed among the received applications. The following companies have received a license.
Type A (7 pieces): Superonline, Koc.Net, Eser Telekom, Doan letiim, Sabanc Telekom, Borusan Telekom, Global letiim.
Type B (13 pieces): Deltakom letiim, Atlas OnLine, Mor-Tel Telekom, MEGA telekom, Net letiim, Kaya Telekom, nko letiim, Akcell letiim, SGS Telekom, GSAD Telekom, VANET telekom, Turkonet letiim, LTDS Telekom.
Type C (7 pieces): TSM Biliim, Televarsal letiim, Telnet Telekom, nterkom Telekom, net letiim, UTH Telekom, kon letiim.
Although the licences have been distributed, due to the infrastructure work and the interim linkage that they will undergo with Turk Telekom (For Type C, a duration of 2 months) as well as the number of assignments will urge Telekom operators to start working at earliest in 2 months.
With the entry of the new Telekom operators in the market, the sector will flourish and will be able to offer different options to customers. This means, the diversification of the service quality and the decrease in prices.
At the same time, the telecommunications corporation has developed a new “Consumer Relations Complaint Center”. With this center the Telekom operators will be supervised.
Transportation Minister Yldrm
Transportation minister Binali Yldrm said that the privatisation in the telecommunications sector will lead to a market growth and will produce new employment opportunities. Minister Yldrm, further said that, “he is anticipating a decrease in the phone call prices as expected.”
Minister Yldrm, asked the licencees to increase Turk Telekom’s market share and said, “after today we will be able to see more than one firm providing telecommunications services in a competitive environment. With the privatisation of the telecommunications sector as a nation we expect a growth in the market, new employment opportunities, and finally with the quality increase through competition we expect a decrease in the phone call rates.”
TK President Arasl
The president of the Telecommunications Foundation (TK) mer Arasl, indicated that the delay in the licence distribution is a “delay which is caused by the legal regulations.” Arasl, referred to Turk Telekom as a “big brother” for its position in the sector. Arasl further added that “Turk Telekom will asisst to the growth of the new licencees and will provide a competitive enviroment in the sector.”
Arasl indicated that the 1,4 billion dollars worth of UMTH market will provide trained work force employment. He said: “until the beginning of the year 2007, we predict the development of a 4,5-5 billion dollars worth UMTH market.” Arasl further indicated that by the end of 2004, all the companies which have applied for a licence will be able to gain a revenue, which is 4,5 times more than their planned investment cost.
