The TRNC’s first 4.5G mobile network became active on Thursday, with the government set to earn 1.25 billion TL (€43m) from the associated tendering process.

The Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı said the government is set to earn ₺1.25bn from the associated tendering process.

It was an exciting moment for the TRNC as the country started using 4.5G as of midnight on Wednesday.

Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı hailed the transition in an interview with the Anadolu News Agency, stating that the move to 4.5G was in line with “the fast internet demands of young people, tourists, and businessmen who mostly work in home offices”.

He also said that the TRNC “has caught up with the times in communication technology”.

Of the tendering process, he said two contracts were awarded, the first to KKTCELL the subsidiary of TURKCELL and the second to Telsim, the subsidiary of Vodafone.

“Payments to the government have started within the scope of the tender. At the end of the day, ₺1.25bn will enter the TRNC state treasury,” he said, adding that KKTCELL customers started having access to 4.5G from Thursday, and Telsim customers from November.

“Within the scope of the tender, the transition to 5G must take place within five years,” he added.