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ARTICLE · 17 APRIL 2025

Market Intelligence Thought Leadership Award Winner

Traditional Communications vs. OTT: Turkish Regulator Opens Draft OT Secondary Legislation For Public Consultation

Balcioglu Selçuk Eymirlioglu Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership
Balcioglu Selçuk Eymirlioglu Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership
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Balcioglu Selçuk Eymirlioglu Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership

Balcioglu Selçuk Eymirlioglu Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership

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With the decision of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority dated 7 March 2025, Türkiye has taken another major step toward regulating the over-the-top communications services landscape.

TurkeyMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Ömer Faruk Çelik
Ömer Faruk Çelik
Barış Yüksel
Barış Yüksel
Busra Nazli Yaldir
Busra Nazli Yaldir
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With the decision of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority ("ICTA") dated 7 March 20251, Türkiye has taken another major step toward regulating the over-the-top ("OTT") communications services landscape. The ICTA has published three drafts for public consultation, all of which aim to provide much-needed clarity on the authorization of OTT communications services in Türkiye.

This move represents a continuation of the regulatory shift that began with the 2022 amendments to the Electronic Communications Act, which formally recognized OTT services as part of the regulatory framework. However, the latest draft regulations now flesh out what this recognition means in practice, raising both compliance obligations and strategic considerations for global and domestic service providers alike.

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