Telecommunications, Liberalization, and the Growth of the Internet in Turkey

The privatization and liberalization of telecommunications services have been debated and pursued with varying speed and successby countries throughout the world. InTurkey, efforts to privatize Türk Telekom and liberalize the telecommunications regime have not yet been successful.At the same time, the Internethas experienceddramatic growth.While the experienceofTurkey illustrates that formal liberalization of basic telecommunications services is not a necessary condition for the growth of a dynamic Internet services provision market, the relationship between the Internet service providers and the provider of basic telecommunications services remains a critical one. Türk Telekom and policymakers have permitted the creation of a de facto liberal market for Internet services,have supported the creation of Internet infrastructure, and have established a rather level playing Ž eld for Internet service providers.