View source for Turkcell

{{Short description|Turkish mobile phone operator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Turkcell İletişim Hizmetleri A.Ş.
| logo = Turkcell logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| type = [[Anonim Şirket]]
| traded_as = {{BIST|TCELL}}<br />{{NASDAQ|TKC}}<br />{{nyse|TKC}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994|2|27|df=yes}}
| founder = {{plainlist|
* [[Posti Group|Finland PTT]]
* [[Ericsson Mobile Communications|Ericsson Telekomünikasyon Anonim Şirketi]]
* Kavala Yatırım Anonim Şirketi
* [[Murat Vargı|Hüseyin Murat Vargı]]}}
| location_city = [[Istanbul]]
| location_country = [[Turkey]]
| area_served = Turkey,<br />Northern Cyprus
| key_people = [[Şenol Kazancı]] ([[Chairman]])<br />Ali Taha Koç ([[CEO]])
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]s
| products = [[mobile phone|Mobile telephony]] & Internet services
| revenue = {{increase}} [[₺]] 35.9 billion <small>(2021)</small><ref name="s2.turkcell.com.tr">{{cite web|url=https://ffo3gv1cf3ir.merlincdn.net/hakkimizda/en/yatirimciiliskileri/InvestorReportLibrary/Turkcell-IAR-2021.pdf |title=Investor report 2021|website=merlincdn.net|access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} [[₺]] 7.7 billion <small>(2021)</small><ref name="s2.turkcell.com.tr"/>
| net_income = {{increase}} [[₺]] 5 billion <small>(2021)</small><ref name="s2.turkcell.com.tr"/>
| assets = {{increase}} [[₺]] 17.147 billion <small>(2011)</small><ref name="annual_2011" />
| equity = {{increase}} [[₺]] 10.793 billion <small>(2011)</small><ref name="annual_2011" />
| num_employees = 26,000 <small>(December, 2021)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ffo3gv1cf3ir.merlincdn.net/hakkimizda/en/yatirimciiliskileri/InvestorReportLibrary/Turkcell-IAR-2021.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125061343/https://ffo3gv1cf3ir.merlincdn.net/hakkimizda/en/yatirimciiliskileri/InvestorReportLibrary/Turkcell-IAR-2021.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 November 2022|title=ANNUAL REPORT For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021(FORM 20-F)|publisher=Turkcell|date=2022-04-20|access-date=2022-06-13}}</ref>
| owner = [[Turkey Wealth Fund]]<br />IMTIS Holdings
| divisions = {{Collapsible list
 | Turktell Uluslararası<br />Turkcell Global Bilgi<br />Financell<br />Turktell Bilişim<br />A-Tel<br />Fintur Holdings B.V. (%41,45)}}
| subsid = {{Collapsible list
 | Turkcell Europe<br />BeST<br />[[Kuzey Kıbrıs Turkcell]]<br />Turkcell Superonline<br />İnteltek<br />Global Tower}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.turkcell.com.tr/}}<br />{{URL|https://www.kktcell.com/}} (Northern Cyprus)
}}

'''Turkcell İletişim Hizmetleri A.Ş.''' (''lit. Turkcell Communication Services'') ({{Istanbul Stock Exchange|TCELL}}, {{nyse|TKC}}) is the leading [[List of mobile network operators#Turkey|mobile phone operator]] of [[Turkey]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkcell-alfatelecom-idUSKBN0MD0LZ20150317|title=Russia's Alfa Telecom bids $2.8 billion to double stake in Turkcell|date=17 March 2017|newspaper=Reuters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320055026/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkcell-alfatelecom-idUSKBN0MD0LZ20150317|archive-date=20 March 2017|last1=Dolan|first1=Asli Kandemir}}</ref> based in [[Istanbul]]. The company has 39.3 million subscribers as of September 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkcell.com.tr/site/en/turkcellhakkinda/Sayfalar/genel-bakis/genel.aspx|title=History|publisher=Turkcell|access-date=2012-06-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701201455/http://www.turkcell.com.tr/site/en/turkcellhakkinda/Sayfalar/genel-bakis/genel.aspx|archive-date=2012-07-01}}</ref> In 2015, the company's number of subscribers climbed to 68.9 million, in nine countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://investor.turkcell.com.tr/2015/turkcell-group|title=Turkcell Group .:. Annual Report|last=Cinarli|first=Bilal|website=investor.turkcell.com.tr|language=en|access-date=2017-02-24|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225130008/http://investor.turkcell.com.tr/2015/turkcell-group|archive-date=2017-02-25}}</ref> The largest shareholder is [[Turkey Wealth Fund]] with 26.2% ownership. It is one of the world's biggest companies (Fortune 2000) list published by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/turkcell/|title=Turkcell on the Forbes Global 2000 List|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-03-19|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909201225/https://www.forbes.com/companies/turkcell/|archive-date=2017-09-09}}</ref> Turkcell has also developed [[Yaani]], a browser for mobile and desktop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.turkcell.com.tr/servisler/yaani |title=YaaniTarayıcı|work=Turkcell|access-date=2021-07-22|language=tr}}</ref> Turkcell's general manager is Ali Taha Koç.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 October 2023|title=Turkcell'in Genel Müdürü Ali Taha Koç oldu|website=dunya.com|publisher=[[Dünya (newspaper)|Dünya]]|url=https://www.dunya.com/sirketler/turkcellin-genel-muduru-ali-taha-koc-oldu-haberi-707669|access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref>

== Company background ==
[[File:Turkcell Mobile Base Station.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Turkcell mobile base station in Eskişehir, Turkey, 2007]]
In February 1994, Turkcell started [[Turkey]]'s first [[GSM]] network. In Q3 2012, it had a market share of 52.4%. Its competitors were [[Vodafone]] with a market share of 27.9% and [[Avea]] with a market share of 19.7%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkcell.com.tr/site/en/turkcellhakkinda/yatirimciiliskileri/Sayfalar/turkiyegsmpazari.aspx|title=Market Information|publisher=Turkcell|access-date=2013-05-17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714073539/http://www.turkcell.com.tr/site/en/turkcellhakkinda/yatirimciiliskileri/Sayfalar/turkiyegsmpazari.aspx|archive-date=2012-07-14}}</ref>

Turkcell is the first Turkish company to be listed on the [[New York Stock Exchange]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB963261640537894876|title=Turkcell's IPO Will Put Turkey On the Telecom and U.S. Maps|last=Dorsey|first=James M.|date=2000-07-11|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2017-11-27|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131817/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB963261640537894876|archive-date=2017-12-01}}</ref> where its shares have been traded since 11 July 2000 along with trading on the [[Istanbul Stock Exchange]].

Turkcell also provides GSM services internationally. It has 9.6 million subscribers via Fintur Holdings and its affiliates in partnership with TeliaSonera in [[Azerbaijan]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Moldova]], as of 30 September 2007. In 2009, they were the first company to get 3G services for their customers in Turkey.<ref>{{cite web |title=The race is on |url=http://www.ericsson.com/article/turkcell_1633598732_c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042910/http://www.ericsson.com/article/turkcell_1633598732_c |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=24 April 2018 |website=Ericsson.com}}</ref> In 2015, Turkcell completed the acquisition of a 44.96% stake in Ukrainian mobile phone operator [[Lifecell|Life :)]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS: 26.6.2015 &#124; Acquisition of the Shares of SCM Holdings Limited in Euroasia that Owns 100% of Astelit in Ukraine |url=http://www.twst.com/update/114817-turkcell-iletisim-hizmetleri-as-2662015-acquisition-of-the-shares-of-scm-holdings-limited-in-euroasia-that-owns-100-of-astelit-in-ukraine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629232822/http://www.twst.com/update/114817-turkcell-iletisim-hizmetleri-as-2662015-acquisition-of-the-shares-of-scm-holdings-limited-in-euroasia-that-owns-100-of-astelit-in-ukraine |archive-date=2015-06-29 |access-date=2015-06-26}}</ref> It had 13.6 million subscribers at that time.<ref name="auto"/>

Turkcell also provides [[IPTV]] service in Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvplus.com.tr/|title=TV+: Dizi, Film ve Canlı TV Kanalları - İlk 7 Gün Ücretsiz Deneyi|website=tvplus.com.tr|accessdate=29 May 2023}}</ref>

In October 2020, TVF Bilgi Teknolojileri Iletisim Hizmetleri Yatirim Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. a subsidiary of Turkey Wealth Fund, the wealth fund of the Republic of Turkey, acquired control of 26.2% of Turkcell. 19.8% of Turkcell’s shares are controlled by the second-largest shareholder IMTIS Holdings S.a r.l., an entity in which Letterone Investment Holdings S.A. has an indirect economic interest.

==Coverage area==
Turkcell provides coverage of an area that, as of 31 March 2007, includes 100% of the population living in cities of 3,000 or more people, 97.21% of the total population, and 80.44% of Turkey's land area. The company has a few blind spots, especially in mountainous areas in the [[Eastern Anatolia Region|Eastern region]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/Communications/mobile_companies.html|title=Turkish Mobile (Cell) Phone Companies|author=Tom Brosnahan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831065314/http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/Communications/mobile_companies.html|archive-date=2015-08-31}}</ref>

==Northern Cyprus==
Turkcell also operates overseas. Its Northern Cyprus brand is known as '''Kuzey Kıbrıs Turkcell''' (North Cyprus Turkcell) which operates only in the [[Northern Cyprus]]. KKTcell runs completely separately from Turkey's Turkcell, although the ownership of the network is the same. KKTcell is currently also the North's largest Network Provider in terms of registered users and network coverage. KKTcell numbers can be distinguished from Mainland Turkey Turkcell numbers easily, as KKTcell numbers begin with 90 (533) 8XX-XXXX.

==Roaming==
Turkcell has international roaming agreements with 605 operators in 201 countries as of September 2008. It claims to have more international [[GPRS]] roaming agreements than any other operator (356 operators in 143 countries as of 31 August 2008). It also applies discounted roaming costs when calling from a Turkcell mobile to a KKTurkcell number.

==Sponsorship==
Turkcell has been the "Official Communication Sponsor" of the [[Turkey national football team|national football]] and [[Turkey national basketball team|basketball]] teams since 2002. Turkcell was the main and name sponsor of the first Turkish football league, the [[Süper Lig|Turkish Super League]], from 2005 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151019005938/en/Turkcell-Returns-to-Turkish-Football%E2%80%99s-Super-League-with-Sponsorship-Deal |title=Turkcell Returns to Turkish Football's Super League with Sponsorship Deal |access-date=2021-07-22 |date=2015-10-19}}</ref> It also sponsors 14 of the 18 football teams in the Süper Lig. The "Turkcell Football Awards" project was initiated in 2003 to encourage "fair play" by awarding athletes who show fairness, impartiality, and solidarity.

Turkcell also sponsors the [[International Istanbul Film Festival]] and co-sponsors the [[Istanbul International Jazz Festival]]. Since 1999, Turkcell has supported the restoration of the ancient city walls in [[Bodrum]]. The last phase of the project, the restoration of an ancient theater, was completed in June 2003.

Turkcell has also continued to sponsor the CeBIT Bilişim Eurasia event,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cebitbilisim.com/en/index.php/ |title=CeBIT Bilişim Eurasia |access-date=2014-03-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325102828/http://www.cebitbilisim.com/en/index.php/ |archive-date=2014-03-25 }}</ref> one of the major information technology fairs in Europe, for the tenth time in 2007.

Turkcell's main educational project, "Modern Girls of Modern Turkey", which started in 2000, grants scholarships to 5,000 young women in less developed parts of the country. The project received international recognition in June 2001, when it won the UK "Institute of Public Relations Excellence Award" and the "Crystal Obelisk Award" from the Foundation of Women Executives in Public Relations in [[New York City]] in 2002.

==Criticisms==
===Advertisement injection===
[[Turkcell Superonline]], one of Turkcell's subsidiaries and a major [[ISP]] in Turkey, has been criticized for injecting advertisements. The company has not responded to questioning about the injections. This event was described as the first evidence of traffic monitoring and manipulation in [[Turkey]] with [[deep packet inspection]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gözütok|first1=Ahmet|title=Turkcell Superonline kullanıcılarını reklam izlemeye mi zorluyor?|url=https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|website=donanimhaber.com|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141204/https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Yagiz|title=İddia: Superonline kullanıcılarına izinsiz reklam gösteriyor.|url=https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|website=medium.com|date=25 September 2016|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141143/https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref>

==MTN Group court case==
In May 2013, Turkcell dropped its multibillion-dollar US lawsuit against [[MTN Group]], citing a US Supreme Court ruling that hurt its case. The operator filed a $4.2 billion lawsuit in Washington in 2012 alleging the company used bribery to win a mobile license in Iran that was first awarded to Turkcell. The court delayed the case in October 2012 pending a US Supreme Court decision on the Alien Tort Statute, the U.S. human rights law on which Turkcell's suit is based.<ref>{{Citation
 |url               = http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-mtn-turkcell-lawsuit-idUKBRE94014G20130501
 |title             = Turkcell withdraws U.S. lawsuit against MTN Group
 |year              = 2013
 |publisher         = [[Reuters]]
 |publication-place = International
 |url-status           = dead
 |archive-url        = https://web.archive.org/web/20130505091034/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/01/us-mtn-turkcell-lawsuit-idUKBRE94014G20130501
 |archive-date       = 2013-05-05
}}</ref>

== BiP – Messaging, Voice and Video Calling ==
{{Main|BiP (software)}}

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="annual_2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.turkcell.com.tr/InvestorReportLibraryEN/Turkcell_AR_2011_ENG.pdf|title=ANNUAL REPORT 2011|publisher=Turkcell|access-date=2012-06-13}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Turkcell}}
* [https://www.turkcell.com.tr/ Turkcell] official site
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4524744.stm Vodafone buys Turkish mobile firm], ''[[BBC News]]'', 13 December 2005
* [http://teknojon.com Turkey's Turkcell buys Belarus's BeST for $500 mln]
* {{Charlie Rose view|7282|Sureyya Ciliv}}

{{Turkish mobile phone companies}}
{{Istanbul Stock Exchange companies}}
{{Turkcell Group}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:Alfa Group]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the BIST 100]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of Turkey]]
[[Category:Companies based in Istanbul]]
[[Category:Turkish brands]]
[[Category:Turkish companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies of Turkey]]