Turkcell Shows How Fast Followers Deploy Significantly Better Networks and User Experiences

Turkcell acquired 160 Megahertz (MHz) of 5G spectrum in the recent auction in Türkiye, having acquired 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz band and 140 MHz in the 3.5 Gigahertz (GHz) band, increasing its total spectrum to 394.4 MHz. The 26 GHz Millimeter Wave (mmWave) band was not included in the auction, as market demand was considered insufficiently mature and device ecosystem support for the band was still limited. The carrier has deployed a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network with the following features:

• 5G-A from Day 1, using a Standalone (SA) core network.
• 5G-A has allowed the aggregation of 3 Component Carriers (CC) from Day 1, as well as uplink Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO), leading to much better user experience compared to earlier 5G networks.
• SA has been deployed with multiple advanced capabilities, including NetWork Data Analytic Function (NWDAF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), Voice over New Radio (VoNR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) voice service capabilities.
• Network slicing, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and boost packages through Quality on Demand (QoD) have been launched from Day 1 using the above 5G-A network capabilities.
• Turkcell has also developed its own AI algorithms for selecting 4G sites to be upgraded to 5G. This has allowed the operator to minimize costs but offer the best 5G user experience possible.

As a result, Turkcell reports that the median data rate has jumped from 100 Megabits per Second (Mbps) (4G) to 400 Mbps (5G) in Istanbul, a significant boost in user experience. In addition to performance gains, this 5G-A deployment optimizes energy consumption per bit, directly supporting Turkcell’s sustainability and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) reduction targets. Türkiye’s example shows that fast followers also win the technology race, not just the first movers in new generations.

Turkcell’s approach demonstrates that strategic timing—entering the market with a mature, 5G-A SA architecture rather than rushing early Non-Standalone (NSA) rollouts—enables operators to accelerate value creation and capture immediate operational and financial efficiencies. The first 5G networks were switched on in 2019 in South Korea, with new technology, few capable devices, and, most importantly, an NSA core network that tethered the new Radio Access Network (RAN) technology to the 4G core network. All other Western markets followed the same model and scrambled to be first to switch on the new technology and capture subscriber interest. This may have been the rational choice at the time given standards and device readiness, but in doing so, they sacrificed part of their future capabilities in the core network because NSA provided very basic capabilities and effectively downgraded 5G to just a faster data pipe. These same operators have been struggling to upgrade to SA since, with complex technical work to upgrade to SA, high costs, integration challenges, and skill gaps in their workforce. Deploying early is not necessarily a strategic mistake, depending on market conditions, but late adopters have a chance of not repeating the same mistakes early adopters did.

On the other hand, Turkcell has managed to deploy a state-of-the-art network with reduced implementation costs, because the technology is now mature. This has resulted in fewer bugs and initial technical issues, a more highly optimized infrastructure, and a robust and proven 5G ecosystem and market stability. In this case, Turkcell is deploying a 5G network at a time when AI has entered the mainstream market and can optimize its operation and monetization much more than initial 5G rollouts elsewhere. Evolving beyond conventional, uniform coverage deployment, Turkcell introduced an AI-driven, subscriber-centric rollout strategy to optimize site prioritization.

By combining network and business insights, the solution enabled Turkcell to focus investments where it would deliver the greatest customer and network impact. This AI-driven, subscriber-centric site prioritization represents a model for smart Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) allocation. Rather than expanding coverage indiscriminately, Turkcell maximized its Return on Investment (ROI) from day one by targeting high-density, high-value traffic demand, proving that capital efficiency and premium user experience can go hand-in-hand.

From day one, more than half of the data traffic generated by 5G users was carried through high-capability C-Band sites selected through this approach. This demonstrates the effectiveness of Turkcell’s data-driven strategy in maximizing network utilization, enhancing customer experience, and ensuring efficient use of 5G investments.

Operators in other markets should treat Turkcell’s deployment as a case study in how to launch a new generation and, specifically, how it will roll out new types of services without being hampered by operational complexity, legacy infrastructure, and technical debt. Rather than focusing only on the disadvantages of delayed market entry, operators should examine how Turkcell used an SA-first, 5G-A architecture, meaningful spectrum depth, AI-enabled rollout planning, and a mature device ecosystem to accelerate deployment and improve user experience from launch. The key lesson is that operators can secure a strategic advantage if they deploy 5G as a platform for differentiated services, rather than as a basic connectivity upgrade. Operators and regulators should monitor how Turkcell translates its technical lead into monetization through premium consumer offers, FWA, slicing, and enterprise services, as this is undoubtedly a stronger deployment model compared to the first wave of NSA-led rollouts.

Turkcell’s example shows that 5G is launched as a service platform, not just a radio upgrade with NSA. Operators in other markets should study how Turkcell is laying the foundations for advanced SA capabilities through NWDAF, NEF, FWA, slicing, and mission-critical capabilities, and take these learnings to current and future network developments. Ultimately, Turkcell’s cloud-native SA infrastructure and AI integration not only establish a leading 5G benchmark today, but also lay a future-proof foundation for smooth migration toward Open and AI RAN evolution and 6G readiness.