Türk Telekom ‘helped government overcome coup’, says CEO
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Türk Telekom ‘helped government overcome coup’, says CEO

Türk Telekom played a major role in helping the elected government overcome July’s coup attempt, the CEO has told a leading Turkish newspaper.

Group CEO Rami Aslan told the newspaper, Hurriyet, that the operator worked with the government to deactivate the network in areas where plotters were active. The company also provided extra data services at the request of the security services, Aslan said.

“Türk Telekom played a significant role in making the coup attempt fail,” he told Hurriyet.

According to the newspaper, the plotters raided Türk Telekom’s headquarters in Istanbul. After the coup was overcome the government arrested and questioned a number of executives. Two subsequently resignedfrom the company.

“We worked in complete connection with the Information Technologies and Communications Board [BTK] and the Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ministry,” Aslan said, according to Hurriyet.

“We immediately deactivated the telecommunications services in a number of key points where the coup plotters were active, such as the presidency of general staff, the Akıncı air base and the Eskişehir air base, among others, in line with the information from the BTK and the ministry. The data speed was also accelerated in the places where security forces were needed.”

He said Türk Telekom, which is 30% state owned, will continue its planned investment programme.



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