Turk Telekom has launched a pilot 5G network in the town of Çorum, focusing on developing digital agriculture applications to revolutionize the agricultural sector. Collaborating with ZTE, the project uses drones to monitor crops and farming infrastructure, collecting real-time data to enable automated processes such as irrigation and fertilization. By integrating cutting-edge technologies like drones and smart agricultural machinery with a high-speed, low-latency 5G network, Turk Telekom aims to drive significant advancements in efficiency and resource management.
Transforming Agriculture with 5G Technology
The 5G-enabled system has successfully facilitated automated tasks such as spraying, fertilizing, and precision irrigation, Turk Telekom announced. These advancements align with the operator’s commitment to implementing green networks and sustainable applications. The project in Çorum seeks to enhance energy efficiency and productivity by automating critical agricultural operations, including autonomous sowing, pesticide application, and harvesting.
Deputy General Manager of Turk Telekom Network emphasized, “The precision and data-driven capabilities brought by 5G will help us overcome the challenges of modern agriculture, increase efficiency, and support sustainable growth. Through this pioneering initiative, we are not only advancing our technological capabilities but also promoting socio-economic development and sustainability in agriculture.”
Energy Efficiency and Resource Optimization
Through its partnership with ZTE, Turk Telekom established a robust 5G network in Çorum to enable automated agricultural processes. Drones equipped with this technology perform tasks like precision irrigation and pesticide spraying, optimizing water and fertilizer usage. Autonomous machinery facilitates efficient sowing and harvesting during peak agricultural periods.
The pilot project has demonstrated significant energy savings, higher user speeds, and enhanced power efficiency. Turk Telekom plans to expand the use of 5G smart agriculture technologies to other regions, aiming to boost productivity while conserving resources.
Advancing IoT with WiFi HaLow
In December 2024, Turk Telekom became the first operator in Europe to trial WiFi HaLow, a next-generation wireless technology designed for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. This innovation offers low power consumption and long-range connectivity, making it suitable for smart cities, agriculture, and industrial use.
The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is continuing its WiFi HaLow trial program, with plans to integrate OpenRoaming capabilities by 2025, further enhancing IoT interoperability.
Fiber Network Expansion
Turk Telekom has also made significant strides in expanding its fiber network, which reached 459,000 kilometers by Q3 2024, providing connectivity to 32.7 million households. Of these, 10 million households now benefit from direct fiber-to-the-home access. Additionally, 53% of LTE base stations are fiber-connected, forming a solid foundation for 5G deployment. These efforts span all 81 provinces of Turkey, enhancing both mobile and fixed-line services.
Through its combined focus on 5G, IoT, and fiber expansion, Turk Telekom continues to lead the charge in modernizing Turkey’s digital and agricultural infrastructure.
