Opening Operations of IMT Networks, Including 5G

Turkey Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) opened the 2 500–2690 MHZ and 3400–3600 MHZ frequency bands for operation of IMT networks, including 5G.

The ICTA made this decision on April 15th, 2021.

  • The 2 500 – 2690 MHz frequency band is allocated to the Mobile, except aeronautical mobile, and Fixed services on a primary basis.
  • The World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) has identified this frequency band for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).
  • The 2 500 – 2690 MHz frequency band had initially been allocated for the operation of both FDD and TDD Broadband Wireless Access systems.
  • The FDD sub bands have remained unused since the allocation of the 2 500 – 2 690 MHz band to Broadband Wireless Access services in May 2005.
  • There is a need to convert the FDD portion of the 2 500 – 2 690 MHz band to TDD operation to enable carrier aggregation with other IMT frequencies.
  • The ICT Authority has adopted a technology neutral approach and supports the deployment of mobile technologies that can technically co-exist within the international regionally harmonised mobile bands.
  • The ICT Authority supports an equitable access to spectrum for all mobile operators with a view to create a level playing field.
  • Decides that,

    • The frequency band 2 500 – 2 690 MHz be made available to licensed Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) Operators for operation of terrestrial IMT systems, including 5G New Radio.
    • the duplex mode of operation shall be time division duplex (TDD).
    • The assigned block sizes shall be in multiples of 5 MHz. The lower frequency limit of an assigned block shall be aligned with or spaced at multiples of 5 MHz from the lower band edge of 2 500 MHz.
    • Synchronised operations as defined at Annex 1 and described at Annex 5, shall be the only authorised mode of operation within the 2 500 – 2 690 MHz frequency ban.
    • Operators shall comply with the technical parameters and standardisation requirements as specified in Annex 3 and Annex 4 of this document for the operation of IMT-2020 networks
    • Notwithstanding decides (e) above, existing LTE networks operating in the 2 500 – 2690 MHz frequency bands shall continue operating in accordance with existing LTE / LTE Advanced standards and continue complying with LTE Standards, as published by ETSI, in particular EN 301908-1, EN 301908-13, EN 301908-14, and EN 301908-11 .Emtel Ltd shall shift the operation of its existing LTE / LTE-Advanced network to the 2 650 – 2 690 MHz band. Furthermore, the 40 MHz of spectrum currently being used to operate a LTE / LTE-Advanced network shall be surrendered to the ICT Authority upon any future switch off of the said LTE / LTE-Advanced network.
    • That each operator bears its own costs for the purposes of implementing the above Decision.

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