Turkey’s long-anticipated 5G spectrum auction closed on Wednesday, raising $3.53 billion, setting the stage for a nationwide rollout from April 2026.

The tender, which was one of the largest telecom events in the country’s history, saw Turkcell, Türk Telekom, and Vodafone Türkiye emerge as winners, each securing valuable frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands.

The tender, organised by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), offered 11 spectrum blocks across the two frequency bands. Bidding was fierce, driving total proceeds nearly 65% above the government’s base valuation of $2.13 billion (excluding VAT).

Turkcell emerged as the top bidder, committing around $1.22 billion for prime 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz holdings. The operator secured the A1 700 MHz block for $429 million, as well as four blocks in the 3.5 GHz band, including B1, B4, B5, and B6.

Türk Telekom followed closely with a total investment of $1.10 billion, obtaining the A3 700 MHz block and two 3.5 GHz packages (B2 and B7–B8). Vodafone Türkiye rounded out the trio with bids totalling $627 million, winning the A2 700 MHz block and the B3 3.5 GHz frequency.

Payments will be made in three equal installments, with penalties for delays.

Transport and infrastructure minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, confirmed that the first commercial 5G services will go live on 1 April 2026, initially in Turkey’s largest cities. A full nationwide rollout is expected within a year.

“5G will be the backbone of Türkiye’s digital transformation, supporting smart cities, connected industries, and advanced public services,” Uraloğlu said after the auction’s conclusion.

Turkey counts around 85 million mobile subscribers, but only 22 million devices are currently 5G-ready.

The new spectrum allocations will enable massive increases in speed, capacity, and latency reduction, paving the way for emerging technologies such as industrial IoT, autonomous systems, telemedicine, and cloud gaming.

Minister Uraloğlu framed the outcome as “a strategic milestone that positions Türkiye among the world’s leading digital economies.”