Opticoms Deploys First Private 5G Network in Turkey at Istanbul Expo Center

German system integrator Opticoms has deployed a private 5G network at the Istanbul Expo Center (IFM). The network covers 96,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space across 11 halls next to Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye. Opticoms worked with Turkish system integrator Advanced Systems (ADSYS) on this groundbreaking project. The deployment utilizes a temporary local-area spectrum license from Turkey’s national telecoms regulator BTK. Opticoms claims it to be the first private 5G deployment in the country, specifically as the nation’s first indoor private 5G smart venue infrastructure. While electronics manufacturer Arçelik Global claimed the first private network setup in Türkiye back in 2021, it was a 4G/LTE-based setup with a 5G upgrade option. The initiative at Istanbul Expo Center supports network slicing, control/user plane separation in the core network, and edge computing, aiming to serve as a testing ground for advanced technologies like 5G-connected robotics and smart devices. Opticoms positioned it as a milestone development for Türkiye’s digital economy, providing crucial support to enterprises at IFM.