Türk Telekom took responsibility for the technology infrastructure of COP31

Türk Telekom assumed end-to-end responsibility for the technology infrastructure of the climate summit COP31 and established a comprehensive digital infrastructure to meet all communication needs of national and international participants, country delegations, press members and visitors.

Türk Telekom will take part as Master Partner and "Global Digital Transformation and Technology" supporter at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held for the first time in Antalya, hosted by Turkey.

Türk Telekom CEO Ebubekir Şahin made statements about the activities they will carry out as a company before COP31, which will start tomorrow and continue until November 20.

Stating that they see technology as a strategic force that directs Türkiye's economic and social development, Şahin said that they serve more than 58 million customers today with their history of more than 185 years and their infrastructure and engineering know-how.

Stating that their fiber network exceeding 592 thousand kilometers covers nearly 35 million households, Şahin said, "While developing an infrastructure of this scale, we take into consideration the resources we use and our environmental impact, as well as the connection we provide. With our 'We Have a Promise for Tomorrow' approach, we handle digital transformation and green transformation together, and bring the experience we have gained in our own infrastructure to solutions that increase resource efficiency in different sectors. We see technology not only as a tool that meets today's communication needs, but also as a strategic force that directs Türkiye's economic and social development." he said.

Pointing out that they have placed sustainability at the center of their business strategies while building Türkiye's digital future with their strong infrastructure, technology know-how and engineering competencies, Şahin said that they have shaped all their work, from renewable energy investments to energy efficiency studies, from domestic R&D projects to sustainable financing practices, with the aim of leaving a more livable world to future generations.

Emphasizing that they see the responsibility they assumed at COP31 as an important part of this vision, Şahin said, "While the world is speaking in Antalya, Türk Telekom will be the line carrying this conversation. We will continue to contribute to sustainable development by transforming the opportunities offered by technology into environmental and social benefit." he said.

"We aim to reduce our carbon emissions"

Şahin stated that while building Türkiye's digital future, they attach importance to how efficiently they use energy and from what sources they obtain this energy, as well as the connection capacity of their infrastructure.

Şahin stated that they expanded their solar energy investments in order to meet the majority of the electricity consumed from renewable sources while expanding energy efficiency technologies in their networks and made the following evaluation:

"We took the first step of Türk Telekom's solar energy investment in Sivas. Our power plant, which we commissioned at the end of 2025, meets approximately 15 percent of our electricity needs. After Sivas, the power plant we will build in Malatya's Darende district is next. This investment, which will be Türkiye's third largest solar power plant in terms of installed capacity when it comes into operation, will be followed by our project in Ağrı. With our three power plants, we have reached a total installed power of 530 megawatts, increasing our current consumption. "We aim to provide approximately 65 percent of our electricity from the sun and reduce our carbon emissions."

Şahin pointed out that while they will take an important step in meeting the long-term energy needs of their networks from clean sources, they will also contribute to Türkiye's green transformation, and said that the results of this approach will also be seen in their sustainability performance.

Reminding that they are included in the BIST Sustainability 25 Index, Şahin said, "In CDP's 2025 evaluation, we received the highest grade of A in the field of climate change for the second consecutive time. In our first reporting in the field of water security, we reached the grade of A-. We were deemed worthy of an award at CDP Turkey's Climate and Nature Conference this year with our climate and water management performance." he said.

Undertook the technology infrastructure of the summit

On the other hand, Türk Telekom assumes full responsibility for the technology infrastructure of the summit, creating a comprehensive digital infrastructure to meet all communication needs of national and international participants, country delegations, press members and visitors.

The company prepared an infrastructure that will provide high capacity and uninterrupted communication by establishing new fiber optic connections from different routes in the summit area covering 1.1 million square meters.

In this context, a communication infrastructure was created using 1.3 million meters of fiber optic cable to connect the summit area to the world with a capacity of 400 gigabits per second. While the power plant with fiber connections fed from different directions was put into operation, redundant systems were installed to allow capacity increase if necessary.

While 1800 wireless access points were created in the summit area, new base stations were established to strengthen the mobile communication infrastructure, including 5G technology. In the organization where the holistic system including data center, network operation center and cyber security operation centers was put into operation, Türk Telekom aims to provide a secure, high capacity and uninterrupted communication experience to all participants throughout the summit.

Supports its goals with sustainable financing sources

The company also supports its green transformation goals with sustainable financing sources obtained from international capital markets. Türk Telekom, which issued a sustainable eurobond of 500 million dollars in 2024 and a green eurobond of 600 million dollars in 2025, increased the total size of its issuances with sustainable financing instruments to 1.1 billion dollars.

While supporting long-term investment goals with the resources it provides, Türk Telekom addresses financial sustainability together with its environmental responsibility approach. Türk Telekom, which reduced its Scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions by 35 percent in 2025 compared to the base year 2020, continues its work towards its goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

The company also uses the opportunities offered by digital technologies to make cities and production processes more efficient, safe and sustainable. Türk Telekom contributes to more efficient management of cities' energy consumption and optimization of transportation processes with smart city applications.

Reducing energy consumption and efficient use of resources are among the company's priority areas in the development of new generation communication infrastructures. In addition to its solar energy investments, Türk Telekom expanded the use of renewable energy in base stations and increased the total installed power of rooftop solar power applications in base stations and fixed buildings. Türk Telekom, which provides efficiency in energy infrastructure with solar energy and network hybrid solutions, solar caravan hybrid energy system and new generation cooling technologies, is also developing projects to benefit from the geothermal resources of the Central Anatolia Region.