Page 105 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Turkey

Turkey is preparing to usher in the 5G era with a national tender for a decade with the government’s decision to launch a $2.13 billion
frequency bands scheduled for October 16, 2025, paving the way 5G spectrum auction in October 2025. The move is expected to
for commercial service rollout in April 2026. The announcement accelerate the country’s transition to next-generation connectivity,
was made by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir with the first commercial 5G services projected for 2026, Reuters
Uraloğlu, signaling a landmark shift in the country’s digital news report said. The tender will open up 11 frequency packages
infrastructure. The tender will be open to licensed operators across the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands, crucial for both nationwide
offering GSM and 4.5G services, including Turkcell, Türk Telekom, coverage and high-capacity urban deployment. Package values
and Vodafone Turkey. A total of 11 frequency packages — across range between $50 million and $425 million, ensuring participation
the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands — will be auctioned, amounting to flexibility for operators. In addition, the government will roll over
400 MHz of spectrum with an estimated value exceeding $2.125 mobile licenses, currently due to expire in 2029, by requiring
billion. Technical specifications have already been published in the operators to pay 5 percent of their annual revenues. The technology
official gazette. New licenses will be valid until December 31, 2044, is expected to power smart manufacturing, logistics, healthcare,
and require operators to contribute 5% of annual revenues to the and connected city initiatives, aligning with the government’s
Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) in broader digital transformation agenda. By following European
addition to tender costs. The move coincides with the expiration deployment models, Turkey aims to bridge the digital divide and
of existing network licenses in 2029. The transition is expected strengthen its competitiveness in global technology markets.
to deliver faster data speeds, improved mobile connectivity, and However, challenges remain. Operators will face high upfront
support technologies such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, spectrum and license renewal costs at a time when revenue
and industrial automation. It also reinforces Turkey’s national growth from traditional services is slowing. To monetize 5G, they
strategy to become a regional digital hub and attract international will need to create enterprise-focused solutions, edge computing
telecom investment. (September 1, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com partnerships, and new consumer applications beyond enhanced
mobile broadband.
Turkey is gearing up for its most significant telecom milestone in (August 19, 2025) www.telecomlead.com

United Arab Emirates

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory transparently share data with the public. By using a network of
Authority (TDRA) has launched a new national system to monitor sensors across cities, the TDRA aims to provide a reliable way for
non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation across the UAE. This citizens to monitor radiation levels in their surroundings and
initiative, developed to protect public health and enhance ensure compliance with national and international health
monitoring capabilities, will track radiation levels from various standards. This project underscores the TDRA’s commitment to
communication systems, including mobile towers and transparency and innovation, ensuring the country’s
broadcasting stations. The new system is built on an interactive telecommunications infrastructure operates both safely and
digital platform where the TDRA will measure, analyze, and responsibly. (August 11, 2025) www.techafricanews.com

105 AUG-SEP 2025