Turkish mobile operator Turkcell and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) have tested the first prototypes of domestically developed network technology aimed at future 6G systems, Turkcell said on Oct. 13.
The company said the prototypes, built with local resources, were trialled in the field on commercial-grade infrastructure for the first time under a strategic collaboration between the two organizations to prepare for 6G.
The work centres on intelligent surface technology, which is designed to steer how wireless signals travel and is considered one of the building blocks of 6G. Teams from TÜBİTAK MAM MİLTAL and TÜBİTAK BİLGEM HİSAR Lab carried out the first commercial tests of static and adaptive intelligent surface designs within Turkcell’s 6GEN.LAB research hub.
Better coverage in dense areas
The tests took place at Turkcell’s Kartal Plaza in Istanbul and on TÜBİTAK’s Gebze campus, using the 3.7 GHz and 26 GHz bands that are allocated to 5G. According to Turkcell, the designs significantly improved signal performance.
Rising mobile data use is pushing 5G and later networks into higher frequency bands, which makes it harder to maintain consistent connection quality, particularly in crowded city centres and inside buildings. The company said the aim was stronger, more reliable connectivity in places where coverage is weak or absent.
TÜBİTAK President Orhan Aydın said the team had developed what he called Türkiye’s first domestically designed SRS, STS and RIS solutions for high-frequency communication, all types of intelligent surface. He said the council would keep working with research centres and industry to build national 6G expertise.
Vehbi Çağrı Güngör, Turkcell’s executive vice president for network technologies, said the operator was "at the forefront of domestic innovation for 6G." He said Turkcell was investing in technologies to improve coverage and efficiency in dense city centres, business districts and large event venues.
Ahead of 6G standards
The milestone comes as Türkiye’s 5G rollout continues; Turkcell launched 5G services on April 1. The company said the results would strengthen the country’s position ahead of international 6G standardization work.
Sources
Photo: Pivox / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
