North Cyprus to switch on 5G on Sunday

The service will initially be available in selected areas of Lefkoşa, Girne, Gazimağusa, Güzelyurt, İskele and Lefke. General manager Murat Küçüközdemir said the company would expand coverage in phases as it continued investing in the network.

Speaking at a press launch at the Grand Pasha hotel in Lefkoşa, Mr Küçüközdemir said the company had invested $307 million in communications infrastructure over its 27 years in North Cyprus.

“For 27 years, we have worked to bring new technologies to our country, strengthen its communications infrastructure and contribute to its digital transformation,” he said. “With 5G, we are taking another major step towards our country’s digital future.”

Live test demonstrates upload speeds

The company screened a video of 5G speed tests carried out in all six districts. It also demonstrated the network in a live video call between Mr Küçüközdemir and content creator Bora Altıntaş, who joined from Turkcell’s Experience House.

Mr Altıntaş uploaded a large video file while the call was still in progress, demonstrating how the connection could handle a file transfer and a live broadcast at the same time.

Mr Altıntaş and fellow content creators Samet Yıldız and Damla Boğaç, who supported Turkcell’s 5G campaign, also shared their experiences of using the technology for video uploads, livestreaming and everyday tasks.

Home broadband at up to 300 Mbps

Turkcell also unveiled its 5G Superbox home broadband service, aimed in particular at households in areas with limited fixed-line internet infrastructure. The service uses a Wi-Fi 7 router to connect to the mobile network and requires no satellite dish or installation visit, the company said.

Packages will offer speeds of up to 100, 200 or 300 megabits per second. Fair-use limits will apply, and actual speeds will depend on local coverage and network conditions.

The company said mesh Wi-Fi equipment could extend the signal to more rooms and floors in larger homes. It also highlighted streaming through TV+ and HBO Max among the ways customers could use the service.

Mobile data allowances to rise fivefold

Under the launch promotion starting on Sunday, Turkcell said customers’ existing mobile data allowances would be increased fivefold. Customers will also be able to check their download and upload speeds through the Turkcell Kıbrıs app without using up any of their data allowance.

The company will offer 15 GB of bonus data and payment plans of up to 15 months on purchases of 5G-compatible devices. It also announced discounts of up to 55 per cent on 55 devices across 10 categories.

“We will continue to invest in technology, infrastructure and our people,” Mr Küçüközdemir said.