Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, has reportedly agreed a deal worth approximately TRY17.5 million (USD9.9 million) to buy corporate data operator Global Iletisim from Yildiz Holding. According to Bloomberg, the actual purchase price will be determined by Turkcell following a full evaluation of Global’s debts, loans and cash position at the close of the transaction. Global Iletisim, which offers fixed telephony and broadband services over its next generation network (NGN), currently has three data centres – two in Istanbul and one in Ankara. The operator’s network will be integrated with Turkcell’s own ISP Superonline in due course. Superonline currently has a presence in 73 Turkish cities, with over 25,000km of fibre-optic infrastructure, which currently passes around 700,000 homes.
The deal is the latest in a series of transactions designed to allow Turkey’s wireless operators to make the transition to full-service telecoms providers, and make up ground on fixed line incumbent Turk Telekom. Last month Turkcell’s rival Vodafone Turkey agreed terms with Turkish conglomerate Koc Holding to acquire alternative fixed line provider Koc.net, in a deal worth GBP11 million (USD18 million). The move will enable Vodafone Turkey to enter the residential ADSL market for the first time and simultaneously expand the reach of its enterprise division. Previously, in April 2010, Vodafone acquired corporate telco Borusan Telekom.