100 Million Dollar Digital Island Investment from Türk Telekom to KKTC

Türkiye's leading telecommunications company, Türk Telekom, held a major meeting in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) to evaluate its 2026 strategic goals and second-half priorities. The "2026 Strategic Roadmap Evaluation Meeting" held by the company on the island was organized to present a review of the first half of the year and to lay out critical plans for the upcoming period. The event, which took place with a very high-level participation, featured a speech by the Republic of Türkiye's Nicosia Ambassador Ali Murat Başçeri during the opening. The meeting brought up highly comprehensive topics such as Türk Telekom's regional technology center vision, its national technology initiative, and its goals to transform KKTC's digital infrastructure.

Nicosia Ambassador Ali Murat Başçeri began his speech by emphasizing the deep-rooted and exceptional relations between Türkiye and the KKTC. Stating that the welfare of the Turkish people living on the island and the development of Northern Cyprus in all areas are among the top priorities for Türkiye, Başçeri touched upon the critical role of Türk Telekom in this process. He reminded that thanks to the submarine fiber optic cables laid since the mid-1990s, the KKTC is digitally connected to the world. Başçeri also expressed his belief that Türk Telekom, which undertook the task of renewing the island's current and outdated telecommunications infrastructure, will successfully complete this task with the entry into force of the protocol signed between the two countries, and he emphasized that they expect procedural obstacles to be eliminated as soon as possible.

Türk Telekom CEO Ebubekir Şahin stated in his comprehensive remarks that they are working for Türkiye's independent digital future and making significant contributions to the country's technological and economic development. Şahin stated that the company's vision is not limited to Türkiye; their main goal is to spread the advantages of the digital age to the entire regional geography and make Türkiye a regional technology hub. The CEO stated that they are highly willing and determined to contribute to the digital development of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, summarizing that they are carrying out work across a wide spectrum in the KKTC, from fiber infrastructure transformation to local device production. He noted that they will offer all their latest technological expertise, including fiber infrastructure, 5G technologies, data centers, cloud systems, and artificial intelligence-supported solutions, to the service of Northern Cyprus.

With an official agreement signed last year between the Republic of Türkiye and the KKTC states, the mission of ensuring the island's digital transformation was officially given to Türk Telekom. In this context, it is planned to connect approximately 150 thousand households in Northern Cyprus with high-speed fiber internet, and the company is expected to make an investment exceeding 100 million dollars for this massive project. Ebubekir Şahin announced that the project preparation processes are being carried out in full harmony with the KKTC Ministry and authorized local authorities. It was stated that the island's roadmap and timeline are being clarified in coordination with other operators and all relevant stakeholders serving in the region. Following the completion of official procedures, the company aims to take to the field and continue infrastructure work without slowing down.

As extensively expressed by Ambassador Başçeri, the goal of transforming the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has the characteristic of a "university island," into an "informatics island" is of great strategic importance. It is anticipated that this comprehensive technological move by Türk Telekom will radically change the island's digital ecosystem and provide a regional competitive advantage. The company's goals include not only establishing a solid communication network but also accelerating the digitalization of vital sectors such as health, education, public services, and finance, thereby ensuring that the KKTC's "Digital Island" vision becomes a complete reality. Thus, while strengthening its technological independence, the island will continue to step into a much more integrated digital future economically and socially.