Türkiye's state-owned telecommunication company, Türk Telekom, has announced the launch of its indigenous smartphone project. The initiative will be a part of a broader effort dubbed "National and Indigenous Communication Devices."
The initiative will be carried out in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders. The project will involve the development of a variety of smart devices, operating systems, telecommunications equipment, and hardware-software solutions carried out in Türkiye, in addition to smartphones.
Ümit Önal, General Manager of Türk Telekom, touted it as an important step to transform Türkiye from a technology consumer to a global producer and exporter. He also stated that Türk Telekom's subsidiaries, such as Argela and Netsia, already hold more than 70 international patents.
Önal further indicated that large-scale agreements have been signed with leading technology firms around the world to commercialise the developed technologies. 5G compatibility is a critical component of the project. This serves as an indicator of Türk Telekom's strategy to bolster Türkiye's position in the global technology sector.