Telecommunications, Media & Technology
As a leading emerging market with a growing national economy, Turkey is strengthening free market competition and attracting many foreign investors in these sectors.
Telecommunications
The legal framework and infrastructure has been modernised and an independent regulator introduced. Whilst mobile phone use has nearly reached capacity (2007 estimates were 83%), changes at the end of 2008, including the introduction of MNP (Mobile Number Portability) and the granting of a 3G licence to Avea (the mobile phone operator 81% owned by the privatised Turk Telecom), signal different races to attract new users and investments. The scope for the internet is wide, with broadband penetration being low (September 2008, 7.8%, mainly ADSL).
Media
The media sector in Turkey is dominated by Turkish holding companies cross-selling their products to the general public. The most popular outlet is TV with the average viewing time per person/day high at 5 hours and which saw the entrance of Rupert Murdoch in 2007 (24 national, 16 regional and 215 local TV stations). Print media is focused on newspapers (40 national, 23 regional and an estimated 2,061 local newspapers) with low interest in magazines and periodicals. Turkey is also switching from analogue to digital with an estimated finish date of 2010.
Technology
The government has introduced many initiatives, such as the increase in technology zones and the utilisation of tax concessions, which, with EU and Turkish government funded grants and a growth in e-commerce in the private and public sector, are attracting activity. Software is a key industry within the sector that has been boosted by such developments.