A protocol covering the financial support for the construction process of TÜRKSAT 7A was signed at the “New Era of Connectivity Forum”, where Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu gave the opening speech. Minister Uraloğlu said, “Our satellite, which we plan to put into service in 2029, will be the carrier of Türkiye’s digital future vision with its higher data capacity and stronger coverage area.”
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu delivered the opening speech of the “New Era of Connectivity Forum” organized under the leadership of TÜRKSAT. In his speech, Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that space has become an arena where not only scientific discoveries but also global balances of power and strategic superiorities are redefined.
Uraloğlu, who drew attention to the fact that satellite technologies have emerged as a critical element that has changed the course of modern wars, said, “Wars are now being won not only on land, in the air or at sea, but also in space. Satellites provide states with an unparalleled advantage in areas such as intelligence gathering, real-time communication, target detection and logistics coordination.”
“Having a Strong Presence in Space is a Requirement for Our Global Competitiveness”
Citing the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict as an example, Uraloğlu drew attention to the fact that satellite-based surveillance and communication systems play a vital role in strategic decision-making processes. Stating that data collected via satellites offers a decisive advantage at every stage of the war, from precise target detection to the coordination of air defense systems, Uraloğlu continued his words as follows:
“This clearly shows us how critical space technologies are in terms of national security and defense. For this reason, as Turkey, having a strong presence in space is not only a technological goal, but also a requirement of our national security and global competitiveness.”
Uraloğlu, who stated that space has always been a field that has pushed the boundaries of humanity since the space age began with the launch of the Sputnik 1957 satellite by the Soviet Union in 1, until Telstar carried television broadcasts across the Atlantic in 1962, reminded that Türkiye began this journey on May 17, 1865, with the Ottoman Empire becoming one of the founding members of the International Telecommunication Union. Uraloğlu said, “This adventure, the foundations of which were laid with telegraph lines, embraced the limitless potential of space 129 years later in 1994 with the TÜRKSAT 1B satellite, and carried this vision even further with TÜRKSAT 1C, 2A, 3A, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B and most recently 6A.”
Uraloğlu noted that they have taken this legacy to a new dimension by establishing the Turkish Space Agency in 2021, the National Space Program announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2022, and producing the first domestic and national satellite TÜRKSAT 6A.
“Connectivity is the Key to the New Age”
Minister Uraloğlu stated that it is not enough to just produce, and that it is necessary to stay connected to the world in an uninterrupted and secure manner, and continued his words as follows:
“Economies, social structures, public services, security and development models are now directly related to connectivity. Therefore, connectivity is the key to the new era and has become the cornerstone of trade, education, health, public administration and even social life today. In a period when both individuals and entire states are integrated into the digital world, it is vital that this infrastructure is strong, reliable and widespread. At this point, I would also like to emphasize that connectivity is not only a technological necessity, but also a tool for social transformation.”
Minister Uraloğlu stated that thanks to 5G technology and high-speed satellite systems, a student in rural areas can now access the world's best educational resources; an entrepreneur can instantly reach global markets, and said, "In the health sector, patients can communicate with specialist doctors without geographical barriers with telemedicine applications."
“As Türkiye, we are developing a comprehensive infrastructure from fiber optic networks to satellite technologies.”
Minister Uraloğlu added that in this era where cybersecurity threats are increasing, secure data transfer and uninterrupted communication have become indispensable elements in terms of national security, and said, “As Turkey, we are developing a comprehensive infrastructure from fiber optic networks to satellite technologies in order to evaluate the opportunities of this new era and to be prepared for its risks. This is not only a technological investment, but also the cornerstone of our social justice, economic growth and global competitiveness.”
“We are Building Information Highways”
Uraloğlu stated that the more comprehensive, fast and resilient a country’s communication systems are, the higher its digitalization capacity will be, and included the following statements in his statement:
“With this understanding, as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, we are not only building highways, airways, railways and ports; we are also establishing information highways. Satellite technologies are a matter of independence and sustainability for us. Communication satellites play a critical role not only in broadcasting today, but also in every aspect of life, from uninterrupted communication in times of disaster to the continuation of public services without any disruption, from defense infrastructures to agricultural production.”
“Producing a Satellite with National Technology is a Country’s Declaration of Its Future Vision to the Whole World”
Underlining that a country having high technology and producing satellites with national technology is not only a technological success but also a challenge in the global arena, Minister Uraloğlu said, “This is a concrete indicator of a nation’s knowledge, engineering capacity and innovative spirit. Producing a satellite with national technology does not only mean sending a device into the sky; it is a country declaring its will to self-determination, independence and vision for the future to the entire world.”
Underlining that they have crossed an important threshold with TÜRKSAT 6A, Uraloğlu noted that by putting TÜRKSAT 80A, which was produced with a local content rate of over 84% and 6 domestic equipment, into service, they have brought Türkiye to the list of 11 countries in the world that can design and produce communication satellites. Stating that this is a historical step towards Türkiye's technological independence as well as showing the point Türkiye has reached in engineering, Uraloğlu continued his speech as follows:
“We put TÜRKSAT 6A into service on April 21, 2025 with the presence of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Immediately after it started providing service, TÜRKSAT signed the first international agreement on the capacity of 6A. With the agreement made with a Dubai-based company, TÜRKSAT will provide service in eastern India for the first time. Our negotiations with many other communication and broadcasting organizations continue. Today, TÜRKSAT is among the world's satellite operators with our 31 active satellites in 42, 50 and 6 degree orbits. Now, with the new agreements of TÜRKSAT 6A and hopefully in the future with TÜRKSAT 7A, we will rise even higher in this ranking.”
Next is TURKSAT 7A
Minister Uraloğlu, who stated that TÜRKSAT 7A is next in line, said, “Today, following this meaningful forum, we will also sign a protocol between the Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Research Center (UDHAM) affiliated to our Ministry and TÜRKSAT, covering the financial support for the construction process of our new generation communication satellite TÜRKSAT 7A. This protocol will outline the contribution of our Ministry to the development of TÜRKSAT 7A and ensure that the project progresses on solid ground.”
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the TÜRKSAT 7A project started due to the approaching end of the design life of the TÜRKSAT 42A satellite operating in the 3-degree East orbit, and said, “This satellite, which we plan to put into service in 2029, will be the carrier of Türkiye’s digital future vision with its higher data capacity, stronger coverage area and flexible resource management capability. Once put into service, it will continue to exist as a strong symbol of our country’s independence in space.”
“Those Who Make a Mark in Space Will Have a Say in the World”
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the steps they have taken to strengthen Türkiye's satellite ecosystem are not limited to large satellites only, and continued his words as follows:
“Göktürk observation satellites, our İMECE satellite, which is of great importance for our national security, cube satellites developed by our universities and the defense industry, close orbit constellation satellite projects and the Model Satellite Competitions organized by TÜRKSAT since 2015, demonstrate our claim in this area. And today, we are together with all our institutions and organizations in this field for this reason. We do not see the New Era of Connectivity Forum as just an information sharing event. We evaluate this Forum as a strategic ground that will shape the next 10, even 20 years of Türkiye in terms of satellite communication technologies.”
Underlining that Türkiye has to be a country that has a say not only in its own region but also in the world's communication map, Minister Uraloğlu said, "We aim for a Turkey that carries global competition to the highest level with the technologies we produce, the collaborations we establish and the infrastructures we develop, acting with the principle of 'Those who have a mark in space have a say in the world'. We will always continue to work towards this goal."
Following the opening speeches, the Türksat 7A Project Cooperation Protocol Signing Ceremony was held by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, UDHAM Presidency and Türksat A.Ş.
