The schedule for the frequency allocation tender, one of the most important steps in Turkey’s transition to 5G, the next-generation mobile communications technology, has been announced. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) announced that the tender will be held on October 16th, and only the three largest operators—Turkcell, Türk Telekom, and Vodafone—will be able to participate. This decision has sparked discussions about the future of competition in the sector and potential monopoly risks.

When is the 5G tender?

According to the specifications published by BTK in the Official Gazette dated August 31, 2025, operators will submit their applications to participate between October 9th and 16th. The tender, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. on October 16th at BTK’s headquarters, aims to enable users in Turkey to benefit from 5G services on April 1, 2026, once authorizations are completed.

A total of 11 packages prepared in the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz frequency bands will be offered for sale in the tender. The winning operators will have the right to use these frequencies until 2042. Additionally, some existing authorizations expiring in 2029 will also be included in this new process.

The two most striking elements of the tender announcement were the limitation of participation to the three existing operators and the theoretical possibility of one operator acquiring all the packages. Industry experts noted that the tender being held solely between Turkcell, Türk Telekom, and Vodafone could restrict competition, while also pointing out that a single operator acquiring a large portion of the frequencies carries the risk of creating a monopoly in the market. Whether additional restrictions will be introduced in the technical specifications to mitigate this risk remains to be seen.

The results of the 5G tender, considered a milestone in Turkey’s digital transformation, will directly impact both the balance of power within the sector and the quality and price of service consumers receive. All eyes are on the results of this critical tender, which will take place on October 16th.