Telecommunications

EXPERIENCE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

IBS is a leading consultancy in Turkey with many years of experience in assisting leading international and Turkish companies develop their businesses in the Turkish market. IBS has a well-deserved reputation in the telecommunications sector of Turkey as a result of the many projects in which it has been involved. Our consultants are skilled in market, legal, commercial and technical aspects of the sector.

Our previous clients in information and communication technologies include:

• Telecommunications Authority, Ankara
• Telecommunications Regulatory Entity, Albania
• Aria (now Avea)
• AT&T
• France Telecom
• Hewlett Packard
• Motorola
• Nokia
• Reuters
• San Diego State University
• Siemens
• SKT
• Thuraya
• World Bank

We have carried out the most detailed studies we know to exist on various aspects of ICT in Turkey, in particular:

Regulatory Studies

• IBS provided a comprehensive consultancy for the Telecommunications Authority in Ankara on market entry regulations and licensing, with its partner WIK-Consult GMBH.
  The study covered:
• General considerations on Turkish licensing regime
• Licensing and regulation of long distance telephony services and carrier selection
• Licensing and regulation of cable platform
• Licensing and regulation of fixed wireless access
• Licensing and regulation of infrastructure licensing
• Rights of way
• IBS carried out a similar project for the Telecommunications Regulatory Entity, Albania, again in partnership with WIK-Consult GMBH.

GSM Market

• A study of GSM and development of third-generation (3G) networks, Wireless internet, broad band, ultra-wide band, Wimax etc. The study also covered 3G value added services like mobile television and related audio-visual industries – mobile gaming, mobile commerce, financial services, public services (tax, health) etc.
• A full study of GSM drivers and factors influencing the development of the GSM market in Turkey for a potential bidder for Telsim.
• A three-year monitoring programme of Telsim and its commercial operations, including detailed work on distribution channels and dealer relations
• A detailed study of the mobile communications market in Turkey: Focus groups to measure factors involved in the purchase of mobile phones and perceptions of existing operators; ad-hoc interviews in 3 cities; an omnibus in 11 provinces of Turkey to determine distribution patterns of equipment and service; and an economical, sociological, and cultural overview
• Multiple mobile communications market studies assessing the existing situation of the market, with communication strategy analysis to test advertising effectiveness of existing operators and identify the ideal attributes of new operators
• A market assessment project to track the attitudes towards a new operator and new services, as well as habits of current and potential mobile telephone users
• A research study on mobile phone statistics in Turkey, including mobile phone ownership figures by province, daily activation rate by province, and average expenditures for mobile phones per province; and a telephone interviews program in Istanbul and Ankara aimed at researching mobile phone user characteristics

Satellite Communications

• A market potential study for VSAT
• Market potential for satellite telephone services and products in Turkey and Kazakhstan, including advertisement testing
• Brand positioning and concept test for satellite communications through focus groups with cross-border users of mobile telephones

Other Telecom Services

• A market study on Turkish Internet and systems integration, including recommended entry strategy to Turkey
• Qualitative assessment of existing implications of and demand for ISDN systems. Includes video-conferencing, call centres, wireless telephones, network systems, and potential in large businesses, hotels, hospitals, and financial centres
• A feasibility project for the establishment of a VOIP operator in Germany targeting the Turkish community in Germany
• Analysing information service usage of 120 broking houses and banks active in Istanbul Stock Exchange and their future needs
• Customer satisfaction survey and competitor analysis of 450 users of electronic data services
• Assessment of networking and data transmission in Turkey, including legal framework, and the barriers to private suppliers

Telecom Equipment & Distribution

• Developing distribution strategies and a marketing approach for a leading international manufacturer of mobile radios, radio pagers and GSMs, which included a network demand analysis
• A market study on telecommunications switchboards, with analysis on distribution channels, pricing, and financing for end-buyers

IT

• An series of research on the Turkish hardware market by brand, product line and end-user category
• A comprehensive interviewing programme of sixty software houses in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir
• An opportunity analysis of manufacturing control systems focusing on the textile sector, a key area in Turkey
• Top companies in Izmir and Bursa, their existing EDP usage and plans
• A feasibility study for local production of floppy discs
• Pricing and contract practices for computer maintenance in Turkey
• A review of computer education, training schools and the services they offer

Other

• IBS has also carried out a major review of the informatics sector in Turkey. This was for the World Bank to help them assist the technological advance of the country and was used as a model for programmes to assist other countries. Described by the World Bank as “a benchmark for the future”, it included papers covering market size, supply, demand and major players in hardware, software, data services, data transmission and telecommunications as well as relevant human capital.

Multi-Client Studies and Publications

In 2000-03, IBS published a range of studies on the IT and telecommunications sector. These included:

• "Telecommunications Business in Turkey", a 250-page comprehensive report
• Studies in internet sector include Turkish Internet Sector Survey, Turkish Business User Survey, Turkish Internet End User Survey, E-Shoppers in Turkey, E-Bankers in Turkey, E-Readers in Turkey

IBS also carried out a face-to-face survey of information and communication technology equipments and services among 955 companies to represent corporate Turkey. Their current ICT infrastructure, satisfaction levels, budgets and plans were identified.