ICTA APPROVES IMM’S APPLICATION
Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) approved the extension of IMM’s present internet frequency which will expire by the end of the year until the end of 2021. IMM’s Press Advisor Murat Ongun thanked ICTA via the social media platforms. Residents of İstanbul will enjoy the free IMM WiFi service for another year while they commute. Besides, million Turkish Liras of public funding did not go to waste.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality submitted two petitions on 30 November 2020 and 21 December 2020, to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to extend the frequency’s lease term until the end of 2021 to maintain WiFi services. In its statement over the social media tonight, ICTA pleased the Istanbul’s residents by announcing the extension of IMM’s frequency until the end of 2021. The statement read, “The licence of the frequencies allocated to IMM’s subsidiary company İSTTELKOM A.Ş. for trial has been extended until 31 December 2021. The company was requested to complete the investments required by the end of 2021 for preventing losses on our residents’ side.”
IMM’s Press Advisor Murat Ongun thanked ICTA via Twitter. Ongun tweeted, “We thank ICTA for approving the extension of the frequency’s usage until 31 December 2021 for the free internet service we deliver at our Metrobus line.”
IMM’s IT Department and İSTTELKOM Inc. will continue to make the investments and provide the services required for the uninterrupted delivery of internet services in İstanbul, IMM WiFi service with 4 million subscribers in particular.
THE FREQUENCY ALLOCATED IN 2018
This frequency bearing vital importance for the continuity of WiFi services was allocated to the IMM in 2018. By using the existing frequency, IMM built a total of 85 base stations and 335 hand terminals (44 at Yenikapı-Hacıosman Underground and 41 at the Metrobus line)
Had the extension of the frequency term not approved, IMM WiFi service used by 4 million citizens would be cut in public transportation such as the Metrobus. The approval was critical as it prevented the waste of millions of Turkish Liras worth public investment with the infrastructure available at the subways for internet usage. The rapid accomplishment of such investments did not seem possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic that affected the whole world.
The IMM Administration has regarded the continuity of the IMM services and Istanbul residents’ benefiting from free internet service throughout the pandemic as a pleasing development, strengthening the reliability to the public sector.
