Key Takeaways
- Turkcell is deepening its involvement in six new international R&D projects funded by Horizon Europe, EUREKA‑CELTIC‑Next, and Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions.
- The initiatives span 6G network innovation, AI‑driven autonomy, critical‑infrastructure resilience, emergency communications, and sustainable circular production.
- Turkcell will assume technical leadership or coordination roles in several projects, underscoring confidence in its R&D capabilities.
- Projects aim to produce solutions that can be integrated into global standards while also feeding back into Turkey’s technology ecosystem.
- Leadership emphasizes that these efforts align with Turkcell’s dual goal of delivering superior customer service and advancing the national tech landscape.
Overview of Turkcell’s International R&D Expansion
Turkcell, Türkiye’s leading telecommunications operator and technology company, is strengthening its position in the international R&D ecosystem by joining six additional competitive research programmes. Representing Türkiye in studies that shape global standards, the company will participate in projects backed by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme, the EUREKA‑CELTIC‑Next cluster, and the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA) Industrial Doctoral Networks. These engagements reflect a strategic push to move beyond domestic innovation and contribute directly to the development of next‑generation technologies that will eventually be codified in international standards.
MAGIC‑6G: AI‑Enabled Smarter Networks
The MAGIC‑6G project, financed under Horizon Europe, seeks to create next‑generation technologies using artificial intelligence to make networks smarter, more autonomous, and more sustainable with 6G. Involving nine partners from Turkey, Germany, Sweden, Greece, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Finland, Turkcell’s role is to develop a large language model (LLM) based service tailored for telecommunications operators. As the project description notes, Turkcell will also contribute to next‑generation algorithms that support autonomous and dynamic network and service management processes. By embedding AI‑driven decision‑making into the core of 6G architecture, the initiative aims to reduce operational complexity while enhancing network resilience and energy efficiency.
3D‑NET: Seamless Terrestrial‑Non‑Terrestrial Connectivity
Under the CELTIC‑Next cluster of EUREKA, the 3D‑NET project targets the vision of ‘connectivity everywhere’ for 6G. Its goal is to achieve integrated operation of terrestrial and non‑terrestrial networks, thereby providing coverage in underserved areas and maintaining communication continuity during crises. Turkcell will contribute by developing three‑dimensional network structures and will play an active role in bringing the developed solutions up to international standards. The project’s emphasis on hybrid satellite‑ground architectures aligns with Turkcell’s broader strategy to ensure reliable connectivity regardless of geography or disruption scenarios.
FUTURE‑6G: Bridging Academia and Industry via AI
The FUTURE‑6G initiative marks a milestone as the first project from Türkiye accepted under the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA) Industrial Doctoral Networks within Horizon Europe. Focused on next‑generation AI‑focused technologies, the project also aims to train expert researchers who will implement these technologies. Through collaboration with leading European telecom operators, technology providers, and research institutions, FUTURE‑6G builds a direct bridge between academia and industry. Turkcell will contribute to solutions in autonomous network management, AI‑powered decision‑making mechanisms, and reliable AI systems. Moreover, the project is expected to pave the way for attracting internationally experienced researchers to Türkiye in the long term, reinforcing the country’s talent pipeline in cutting‑edge telecom research.
Resilience‑Focused Projects: SAFARI and UNIFIER
Two projects address the resilience of critical digital infrastructure.
SAFARI, supported by Horizon Europe, concentrates on next‑generation resilient infrastructure solutions that allow telecommunications, energy, and transportation systems to operate together uninterrupted during crises. In addition to AI‑powered decision‑making mechanisms, SAFARI aims to reduce dependence on centralized systems and maintain operational continuity by enabling the combined use of data from disparate systems. Turkcell will lead the development of communication solutions that support the continuity of 112 emergency call services, ensuring they are resilient to network outages and capable of autonomous operation.
UNIFIER, to be internationally coordinated by Turkcell, aims to guarantee continued communication even in extraordinary situations where infrastructure is damaged through a hybrid communication infrastructure. The project will create an integrated communication infrastructure where teams from different institutions and countries can collaborate without language or technology barriers, with solutions tested in real field conditions across Turkey and Europe. By fostering interoperability and redundancy, UNIFIER seeks to strengthen emergency response capabilities on a continental scale.
RESURRECTION: Circular Production Powered by AI and Robotics
The RESURRECTION project, qualified for Horizon Europe funding, targets sustainable and circular production technologies. Within this framework, artificial intelligence, robotic systems, and digital technologies will be employed to develop solutions for product condition analysis, automated disassembly, management of reuse processes, and end‑to‑end traceability. Turkcell will focus on making modem remanufacturing and reuse processes more efficient and will lead efforts to disseminate these solutions to other sectors. As the owner of the telecommunications use case, Turkcell will develop innovative solutions for the remanufacturing and reuse of modems, using AI to analyse device condition and determine the optimal reuse pathway. Robotic systems will then automate disassembly, repair, and preparation for reuse, aiming to make the processes faster, more efficient, and more sustainable. This initiative not only reduces electronic waste but also creates a replicable model for circular economy practices in the tech sector.
Leadership Perspective
Prof. Dr. Vehbi Çağrı Güngör, Turkcell Deputy General Manager for Network Technologies, encapsulated the company’s motivation:
“At Turkcell, our priority is to provide the best service to our customers while simultaneously supporting the technology ecosystem. These projects, ranging from 6G to artificial intelligence, from the resilience of critical infrastructure to sustainable technologies, demonstrate the diversity of Turkcell’s R&D approach. Our participation in six international projects conducted in leading European research programs, in critical roles such as coordination and technical leadership, is a significant indicator of the confidence placed in our international R&D strength. With these efforts, we aim to shape the communication technologies of the future and contribute to our country’s technology ecosystem by bringing the technologies we develop to international standards.”
This statement underscores Turkcell’s dual commitment to customer excellence and national technological advancement, framing its international R&D engagements as both a strategic necessity and a contribution to Türkiye’s broader innovation landscape.
Conclusion
Turkcell’s expanded footprint in six high‑profile international R&D programmes marks a decisive step toward becoming a global player in next‑generation telecom technologies. By leading AI‑enhanced 6G initiatives, pioneering hybrid terrestrial‑non‑terrestrial connectivity, bolstering critical‑infrastructure resilience, and championing circular production through robotics and AI, the company is not only shaping future communication standards but also delivering tangible benefits to Turkey’s technology ecosystem. The forthcoming outcomes of these projects are expected to feed into international standards bodies, enhance domestic capabilities, and attract further global collaboration—positioning Turkcell at the forefront of the evolving digital frontier.
https://www.thefastmode.com/technology-solutions/50260-turkcell-advances-6g-technologies-and-artificial-intelligence-r-d