5G Network Infrastructure: ULAK and TÜRKSAT Partnership
**A significant contract aimed at establishing a dedicated 5G network infrastructure for Cooperative and Intelligent Transportation Systems (K-AUS) was signed between ULAK Communication and TÜRKSAT at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona. This event marked a pivotal moment for Turkey’s advancements in national communication technologies, highlighting the country’s ongoing commitment to innovation in the mobile sector. The agreement was formalized in the presence of Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, with TÜRKSAT’s General Manager Ahmet Hamdi Atalay and ULAK Communication’s General Manager Dr. R. Ruşen Kömürcü signing the contract. This ambitious project involves the establishment of a robust 5G network across 19 sites spanning a 40-kilometer corridor connecting Hasdal Junction to Istanbul Airport.
The initiation of the 5G era in intelligent transportation is underscored by this collaboration, which seeks to seamlessly integrate advanced transportation systems with cutting-edge 5G technology. The network, which will be deployed at the designated sites, aims to deliver comprehensive end-to-end services featuring key components including Base Stations (gNodeB – RAN), a Core Network, and a Network Management and Monitoring System (NMS) — all developed from domestic resources. This state-of-the-art infrastructure is set to enhance communication between vehicles and transportation systems, significantly bolstering Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I), and Vehicle-to-Cloud (V2N) communication, facilitating high-speed, low-latency, and secure data transmission.
Vision for Intelligent Transportation
During the signing ceremony, ULAK Communication’s General Manager Dr. R. Ruşen Kömürcü expressed the project’s significance, asserting that Turkey continues to spearhead developments in national communication infrastructure. He remarked, “This project will be a significant milestone in Turkey’s intelligent transportation ecosystem. With the 5G dedicated network solutions we have developed as ULAK, we aim to make intelligent transportation systems safer, faster, and more efficient. Through this collaboration with TÜRKSAT, we will implement the first Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems supported by 5G in one of Istanbul’s critical transportation corridors, pioneering the future urban transportation infrastructure.”
Similarly, TÜRKSAT A.Ş. General Manager Ahmet Hamdi Atalay highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership, saying, “With this project, we make a significant step forward in mobile and communication technologies in Turkey. By leveraging the opportunities offered by 5G technology, we aim to enhance the efficiency of intelligent transportation systems and strengthen our country’s leadership in global competition in this field. As TÜRKSAT, contributing to Turkey’s digital transformation with our national technologies is our top priority. Through this collaboration, we will modernize our country’s transportation infrastructure while also signing a project that will serve as a global example with 5G-supported intelligent transportation systems in a significant transportation corridor like Istanbul.”
