06 November 2025
Turkey’s recent 5G spectrum tender, confirmed in August, has concluded successfully, exceeding the initial financial target of US$2.125 billion.
According to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the auction garnered a total of US$2.95 billion, or approximately US$3.534 billion including VAT, highlighting strong investor interest and bidding activity.
The auction saw Turkey’s three major telecom operators — Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom — secure key spectrum blocks across the 700MHz and 3.5GHz frequency bands. Turkcell emerged as the top bidder in several categories, with a US$429 million bid for the A1 package in the 700MHz band, and securing four blocks in the 3.5GHz range. Its total winning bids amounted to US$1.22 billion. Türk Telekom secured the A3 package for US$425 million along with three other packages, with total bids reaching approximately US$1.1 billion. Vodafone paid US$426 million for the A2 package and acquired one 3.5GHz block, with overall bids totalling US$627 million.
The government plans to initiate the rollout of 5G services starting in April next year, initially targeting major urban centres. Minister Uraloglu specified that the first 5G signals are expected to be available on 1 April, with coverage gradually expanding across the country over the following year, focusing on densely populated areas before reaching nationwide coverage.
In addition to the spectrum sale, the tender extended the license periods for existing 2G and 3G services, allowing operators to continue their operations until the end of 2042, well beyond the original expiry date of 2029. Companies will contribute 5% of their annual sales from these legacy services to the Turkish Treasury.
This auction marks a significant milestone, being the first frequency auction since 2015, when three operators paid approximately US$4.66 billion, including VAT, for 4.5G spectrum licenses covering roughly 15 years. The successful bidding and spectrum allocation signal Turkey’s commitment to advancing its 5G infrastructure and digital economy.
