Turkey to Auction 5G Spectrum for $2.1B, Omits Key ‘mmWave’ Frequencies

The Turkish government has announced the details of its upcoming 5G frequency auction, setting a minimum total bid price of $2.125 billion, a decision published in the Official Gazette on August 16, 2025. However, the plan notably omits the 26 GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) band, which is considered crucial for delivering the ultra-fast speeds and low latency capabilities of full-fledged 5G technology.

The auction will cover a range of low- and mid-band frequencies, which are essential for network coverage and capacity but do not offer the multi-gigabit speeds of mmWave. The tender includes licenses in the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands.

Auction Details and Financials

According to a presidential decree, the auction will offer various packages across both frequency bands.

• 700 MHz FDD Band: Three separate packages (A1, A2, A3), each with a 2×10 MHz bandwidth, are available. The minimum bid price per package is set at $425 million.
• 3.5 GHz TDD Band: The auction includes three 1×80 MHz packages (B1, B2, B3) with a minimum bid of $200 million each, and five smaller 1×20 MHz packages (B4, B5, B6, B7, B8) with a minimum bid of $50 million each.

If all packages are sold, the total revenue for the government will amount to a minimum of $2.125 billion, excluding VAT.

Successful bidders will be required to pay the total amount in three equal installments. Late payments will incur a penalty interest rate of double the annual rate of 7.93%. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) can begin the process of revoking a license if a payment is not made, including interest, within 30 days of the due date.

Missing High-Band Frequencies

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The decision to exclude the high-band 26 GHz (24.25-27.5 GHz) mmWave spectrum from the auction is a significant detail. While the 700 MHz band is ideal for wide-area and rural coverage, and the 3.5 GHz band is a global standard for 5G providing high data capacity, the absence of mmWave means Turkish networks will not be able to achieve the peak performance seen in other countries with full-spectrum 5G deployments.

Existing Spectrum and Operator Landscape

The government also outlined new terms for existing frequency licenses held by mobile operators. Starting in April 2029, operators can retain their current 2G, 3G, and 4G spectrum for a fee. This fee will be 5% of their annual gross sales, excluding VAT.

Additionally, operators will be required to provide a new performance guarantee letter to the BTK. The amount of this guarantee will be calculated as 14 times 6% of the 5% payment from their 2029 gross sales.

Based on existing spectrum holdings from previous auctions, Turkcell leads with 234.4 MHz of total spectrum assets. Türk Telekom is in second place with 175 MHz, while Vodafone Turkey holds 139.8 MHz.