My Economics Diary

Türkiye Digitalization Timeline

  • 1960

    Introduction of Türkiye’s first computer (IBM 650 installed at the General Directorate of Highways)1

  • 1974

    Beginning of domestic cryptographic device development (Early development of Türkiye’s indigenous secure-communications and information-security capabilities)2

  • 1983

    Establishment of YİTAL, Türkiye’s Semiconductor Technologies Research Laboratory (Beginning of domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing capability)3

  • 1986

    Introduction of 1G mobile communication (Emergence of mobile telecommunications in Türkiye)4

  • 1991

    Development of domestic CMOS/VLSI integrated-circuit manufacturing technology (Establishment of domestic integrated-circuit fabrication capability at YİTAL)5

  • 1992

    Launch of Türkiye’s Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) System (Beginning of real-time electronic interbank payments)6

  • 1993

    Türkiye’s first connection to the Internet (Beginning of Internet connectivity in Türkiye)7

  • 1994

    Introduction of 2G (GSM) mobile communication (Transition from analog to digital mobile communications)8

  • 1996

    Launch of TURNET, Türkiye’s national Internet network (Expansion of Internet access beyond academic networks)9

  • 1997

    — Development of Türkiye’s first domestic GSM mobile phone by ASELSAN (Türkiye became one of the first nine countries to produce its own mobile phones)10

    — Launch of ULAKNET (Development of the national academic network)11

  • 2003

    — Rapid Expansion of ADSL Broadband Internet (Transition from dial-up to always-on Internet access)12

    — Launch of the e-Transformation Türkiye Project (Beginning of a coordinated national digital transformation policy)13

  • 2006

    Adoption of the Information Society Strategy (2006–2010) (Establishment of a comprehensive national framework for digital transformation)14

  • 2008

    Launch of the e-Government Gateway (Launch of digital public-service delivery)15

  • 2009

    — Invention of Polar Codes by Erdal Arıkan (Later adopted in the 5G standard)16

    — Introduction of 3G mobile services (Expansion of mobile broadband access)17

  • 2011

    Development of Türkiye’s First National Smart Card Integrated Circuit (Building Domestic Secure-Chip Technology)18

  • 2012

    Deployment of domestically developed SRC155A digital radiolink systems in Türkiye’s mobile communications infrastructure (Industrial deployment of indigenous digital communications technology)19

  • 2013

    First National Cybersecurity Strategy & establishment of USOM (Türkiye establishes its national cybersecurity policy and incident-response architecture)20

  • 2014

    Publication of Türkiye’s first National Intelligent Transportation Systems Strategy (Establishment of a national framework for smart mobility)21

  • 2016

    Introduction of 4.5G mobile services (Expansion of high-speed mobile connectivity)22

  • 2017

    Adoption of the National Broadband Strategy and Action Plan (Establishment of a comprehensive national roadmap for broadband infrastructure and next-generation connectivity)23

  • 2018

    Establishment of the Digital Transformation Office (Institutionalization of public-sector digital transformation)24

  • 2019

    Information and Communications Security Measures introduced (Türkiye establishes a government-wide framework for securing public-sector information and digital infrastructure)25

  • 2020

    Establishment of the TÜBİTAK Artificial Intelligence Institute (Establishment of a dedicated national research institution for artificial intelligence)26

  • 2021

    — Publication of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (Establishment of a national policy framework for AI)27

    — Launch of the FAST Instant Payment System (Introduction of 24/7 real-time retail payments)28

  • 2022

    Production of Türkiye’s first domestically fabricated processor (8051 processor designed and fabricated at YİTAL)29

  • 2023

    Completion of Phase I of the Digital Turkish Lira Project (A major step toward the development of Türkiye’s central bank digital currency infrastructure)30

  • 2024

    — Launch of TÜRKSAT 6A, Türkiye’s first domestically developed communications satellite (Advancement of domestic satellite development capabilities)31

    — Introduction of Türkiye’s first quantum computer (5-qubit superconducting QuanT developed by TOBB ETÜ with SSB support)32

    — Initiation of a semiconductor manufacturing facility project in Türkiye (A major step toward building domestic semiconductor production capacity)33

  • 2025

    — Establishment of the Cybersecurity Presidency and Enactment of the Cybersecurity Law (Creation of a centralized institutional and legal framework for national cybersecurity)34 35

    — Launch of the MaliZeka Project (Integration of artificial intelligence into Türkiye’s public financial management)36

  • 2026

    — Commercial launch of 5G services (Transition to next-generation mobile connectivity)37

    — Publication of the Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Action Plan (Expansion of the national policy framework for AI development and adoption)38

REFERENCES

  1. General Directorate of Highways (n.d.) The first computer used in Türkiye, Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. https://www.kgm.gov.tr ↩︎
  2. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  3. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  4. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (2002) Third-generation mobile communication systems, Information and Communication Technologies Authority. https://www.btk.gov.tr ↩︎
  5. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  6. Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (n.d.) Electronic Fund Transfer System–Electronic Securities Transfer System–The Instant and Continuous Transfer of Funds (FAST) System. https://www.tcmb.gov.tr ↩︎
  7. Middle East Technical University (2018, July) 25th anniversary of Internet in Turkey was celebrated at METU, Campus Magazine. https://kampus.metu.edu.tr ↩︎
  8. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (2002) Third-generation mobile communication systems, Information and Communication Technologies Authority. https://www.btk.gov.tr ↩︎
  9. Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (1996, July 18) Minutes of the 79th sitting, 20th parliamentary term, 1st legislative year. https://www.tbmm.gov.tr ↩︎
  10. ASELSAN (2026) Investor presentation. https://cdn.aselsan.com ↩︎
  11. TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM (n.d.) Who we are, TÜBİTAK National Academic Network and Information Center. https://ulakbim.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  12. Telecommunications Authority (2005) 2005 annual report. https://www.btk.gov.tr ↩︎
  13. State Planning Organization (2003) Pre-accession economic programme of Turkey 2003. Republic of Türkiye. https://www.sbb.gov.tr ↩︎
  14. State Planning Organization (2006) Information society strategy (2006–2010), Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr ↩︎
  15. Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (2024, December 18) E-Government Gateway turns 16, Republic of Türkiye. https://www.uab.gov.tr ↩︎
  16. Arıkan, E. (2009) Channel polarization: A method for constructing capacity-achieving codes for symmetric binary-input memoryless channels, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, 55(7), 3051–3073. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIT.2009.2021379 ↩︎
  17. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (2009) 2009 annual report, Information and Communication Technologies Authority. https://www.btk.gov.tr ↩︎
  18. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM (n.d.) Smart card project, TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  19. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  20. Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications (2013) National cybersecurity strategy and 2013–2014 action plan. Republic of Türkiye. https://www.btk.gov.tr ↩︎
  21. Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications (2014) National intelligent transportation systems strategy document (2014–2023) and action plan (2014–2016), Republic of Türkiye. https://hgm.uab.gov.tr ↩︎
  22. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (2016, March 30) 4.5G last “2” days. http://btk.gov.tr ↩︎
  23. Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications (2017) National broadband strategy and action plan (2017–2020), Republic of Türkiye. https://hgm.uab.gov.tr ↩︎
  24. Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (2018, July 10) Presidential Decree No. 1 on the organization of the Presidency, Official Gazette, No. 30474. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr ↩︎
  25. Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (2019, July 6) Information and communications security measures (Presidential Circular No. 2019/12), Official Gazette, No. 30823. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr ↩︎
  26. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  27. Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Digital Transformation Office, & Ministry of Industry and Technology (2021) National artificial intelligence strategy 2021–2025, Republic of Türkiye. https://wp.oecd.ai ↩︎
  28. Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (2021, January 8) Press release on the launch of the FAST system. https://www.tcmb.gov.tr ↩︎
  29. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  30. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  31. TÜRKSAT, Turksat 6A Launched into Space: First Signal Received, 9 July 2024. https://www.turksat.com.tr ↩︎
  32. Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), Türkiye’s First Quantum Computer “QuanT” Introduced, 21 November 2024. https://kuantum.ssb.gov.tr ↩︎
  33. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr ↩︎
  34. Cybersecurity Law, Law No. 7545, Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye, No. 32846, 19 March 2025. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr ↩︎
  35. Presidential Decree on the Cybersecurity Presidency, Presidential Decree No. 177, Official Gazette No. 32776, 8 January 2025, Art. 3. https://mevzuat.gov.tr ↩︎
  36. TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, Chronology. TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Research Center. https://en.bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr  ↩︎
  37. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. (2026). 5G Dönemi Başladı (The 5G Era Has Begun), 1 April 2026. https://www.uab.gov.tr ↩︎
  38. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology, “Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Action Plan Announced”, 13 June 2026. https://www.sanayi.gov.tr ↩︎

Hello,

I’m Sumeyye

Welcome to My Economics Diary. This is a space where I interpret economic reports, data, and analyses. Here, I examine the different components of the economy from digital and international economics to political economy and reflect on how the decisions and figures shaping this field are manifested in everyday life.

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