Türkiye marches into new digital chapter with multibillion-dollar Google partnership

Turkish telecom operator Turkcell announced a multibillion-dollar partnership with Google this week for strategic cooperation on cloud technologies, which includes building the country’s first hyperscale data center. As part of the collaboration, Turkcell will work with Google Cloud to provide the infrastructure required for a planned Google Cloud region in Türkiye.

The investment aims to bring Google Cloud services to Türkiye and help organizations adopt cloud technologies, as reported by Daily Sabah.

"As part of this partnership, Turkcell will collaborate with Google Cloud to provide the necessary infrastructure for the new Google Cloud region, planned to become operational in Türkiye between 2028 and 2029, and expand its data center network," the company said.

Speaking at "Google Cloud Day Türkiye" on November 20, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said the total investment—combined with Turkcell’s planned $1 billion—will reach $3 billion, emphasizing its importance.

"While Turkcell plans to invest $1 billion within the scope of the project, the fact that Google Cloud will invest $2 billion is also gratifying for our country. Thus, we are talking about a total investment of $3 billion. This is indeed a significant figure and it will trigger other investments as well," Yılmaz said at the Istanbul event.

The vice president highlighted that the hyperscale cloud region being developed through the partnership between Google Cloud and Turkcell represents a major strategic step that will further strengthen Türkiye’s regional standing in data, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.

The new cloud region will include three or more zones and support companies of all sizes across Türkiye in accelerating their transition to the cloud and maximizing the benefits of cloud technologies. According to Turkcell, it will also provide a local infrastructure that gives customers greater control over where their data is stored and helps them meet local data hosting requirements.

Turkcell added that the new cloud region aims to enhance Türkiye’s digital ecosystem by delivering high-performance, low-latency Google Cloud services and bringing advanced capabilities in data analytics, cybersecurity, and digital business solutions closer to local organizations.

These services, including access to advanced technologies, are designed to meet the rising demand for cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, the company noted.

Turkish national strategy

Yılmaz highlighted the rapid momentum that artificial intelligence has gained in recent years in terms of investment and infrastructure, noting that global venture capital investments in AI initiatives rose by about 52% in 2024 compared with the previous year, reaching $131.5 billion.

He said Türkiye is updating its AI policies in response to global developments, recalling the progress made under the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

"Recently, artificial intelligence technologies, especially in generative AI, large language models, data sovereignty and regulatory frameworks, are developing rapidly, and since the current National Artificial Intelligence Strategy period is coming to an end, we are continuing our work on Türkiye's new action plan," said Yılmaz, who also chairs the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Steering Committee.

"In the action plan we will implement, the main headings will be developing human resources, supporting generative AI and Turkish large language models, strengthening high-performance computing and data infrastructures, deepening the R&D and entrepreneurship ecosystem, increasing international collaborations and shaping national legislation compatible with international norms in the field of artificial intelligence."

Yılmaz further noted that cloud computing, data, and artificial intelligence have evolved into interconnected technologies, explaining that decision-making processes in almost every sector are now largely data-driven.

He emphasized that data centers play a critical role in securely processing and storing data and have become key infrastructure enabling fast and uninterrupted access.

By Nazrin Sadigova