We keep discussing the Türk Telekom giveaway protocol in the context of the government's perception operations and the lack of information among a large segment of the population.
As a result, the clear facts, the actual reasons, and the possible consequences slip away from our view; it is impossible for us to reach a real conclusion.
Worst of all, these discussions are perceived by the majority of the public as mere noise, with people unable to see beyond “there's a fight in the Parliament”, or “the government is doing something annoying again.”
This is because the public is not sufficiently informed.
In this situation, how can any support be expected from the public? That is a separate topic of discussion.
***
First, let's clarify: this protocol did not emerge two weeks ago.
Özgür Gazete published the protocol, which was rumored at the time and bore the signature of the appointed Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, in October 2025.
Most of those who are now taking sides against the protocol were aware of it and its content both before and after that news.
However, the opposition (political parties/union, etc.) waited, as usual, until the last minute, and by that time (four months), the process had matured considerably, and the protocol was even published in the Turkish Official Gazette as an ‘international agreement’ with Erdoğan's signature.
Things got really complicated at this point; there was no longer a government that could say, “We are not publishing this.”
And again, at this point, I highly doubt that the current opposition could have done this if it had been in power.
Because this was no longer a matter of “standing up against a mistake”; it would have been tantamount to saying “we have given up” after signing it and despite the other state publishing it, in a manner incompatible with state seriousness.
That is why the concepts of ‘timely intervention’, ‘an opposition that reacts immediately’, and ‘organizing social opposition’ are important.
In short, let's speak more openly now.
***
Let's see if Transportation Minister Erhan Arıklı's statement, “it is a protocol made with Turkey”, reflects the truth.
If you consider the Turkish government to be the Turkish state itself, then the answer to this question is yes.
However, if you are aware that the state and the government are not the same thing, then the answer is no.
The AKP government, which has been in power in Turkey for exactly 23 years, has already made its mark in history with various privatizations in its own country.
From sugar factories to bridges, from mines to ports, from industrial establishments to state banks... We cannot list them all here, but a large part of the gains made in the history of the Turkish Republic have been privatized and sold.
This government did this to its own people, to its own country.
A government whose pensioners and minimum wage earners are tested by hunger; young people, doctors, nurses fare leeing abroad, and judiciary is completely politicized. A government that ranks first in the world in terms of imprisoned journalists and intellectuals; manipulates the perceptions of the segment of society deliberately kept ignorant by the mainstream media, and whose staff are largely incompetent, and buildings crumble like paper during an earthquake.
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And we are told, “This government is Turkey.”
Turkish Telekom is a company established by that very government, whose shares were acquired by the Wealth Fund headed by Erdoğan.
It is not a state institution, but a company whose shares were seized by the Treasury and transferred to the Wealth Fund because it could not pay its debts.
Erdoğan is the sole decision-maker.
***
So, Erdoğan is both the current owner and boss of Türk Telekom.
This agreement is between Erdoğan and the TRNC government.
What did Ünal Üstel say?
“Turkey wanted it.”
What else did he say?
“Let Turkey manage all our strategic institutions; I'll sign everything.”
What did Arıklı say?
“Erdoğan does not allow this business to be given to any company other than Türk Telekom.”
Why?
There are many companies in Turkey.
We can hold an international tender and let them participate, right?
But no,
Erdoğan is not able to manage those.
These two confessions alone confirm that this is not a public institution and that it is solely Erdoğan's demand.
***
Now let's look at another statement by Arıklı: “We almost forced the company to come; they didn't want to do this at all; they won't make any profit out of this; they have no interest in making money.”
It should be noted that the feasibility study conducted earlier for the fiber-optic network infrastructure project had estimated the total cost to be $30 million.
So what does Türk Telekom say about the total cost?
Exactly 120 million dollars!
If there were a tender, and one company offered 100 million and another one 110 million, it would have been understandable.
But of course, there is no domestic, or international tender!
Think about it this way: if we assumed that there was not even one company that could build this infrastructure in the north of Cyprus, and we opened an international tender, many companies from Turkey would participate in this tender.
Yet, at the same time, they would be competitors to Erdoğan's Türk Telekom.
Erdoğan doesn't like competitors.
(See: Demirtaş, İmamoğlu)
***
According to the protocol, Türk Telekom is not just the company that will build the infrastructure.
It will enter the retail market, sell the infrastructure it has built to us, make profit, and then give only 5% of its profits to the state.
Meanwhile, it will be exempt from many taxes and will use all the buildings and equipment in the country.
Is that all?
No, it's not.
***
According to the protocol, the Telecommunications Authority here will not be able to build any fiber-optic network infrastructure; if it does, it will not be able to sell it, but will transfer it to Türk Telekom, which will make the sale and offer the authority a tiny share of the profit.
When Türk Telekom establishes the infrastructure, all other internet connection structures will be canceled within 90 days. Internet Service Provider companies will go bankrupt, as a result.
If they would like to sell services, they will have to pay Türk Telekom for the service and then sell it that way.
Türk Telekom is always the boss.
Think about it; Erdoğan couldn't even do this in his own country, that's how terrible and unbelievable this monopoly is.
So, Türk Telekom, which is said to have ‘no money issues’, will bypass all stakeholders and government agencies in northern Cyprus, and this situation will last for as long as 25 years.
It's a story of favoritism that those who signed it will probably not even be alive to witness, but today's youth may even see their grandchildren suffer from it...
What a generous ‘government agency’ Türk Telekom is, isn't it?
Can you imagine how much money it could make from this?
Did someone say the Information Technologies and Communications Authority?
It doesn't even have a say. It's completely sidelined.
***
We know that the company's infrastructure projects in other countries have been criticized and that it is no longer preferred since it uses outdated technology.
Some even say that Türk Telekom is ‘bankrupt’.
In that case, the way out of that sinking ship could be the huge profits it stands to make here, right?
***
In short;
Türk Telekom is not a state-owned institution.
It's not coming to do us a ‘favor’ just to cover its expenses for our sake.
It plans to make a huge profit, and on top of that, there are no answers to questions about data security.
It will be in a position to access everything from the messages we send to the websites we visit, the games we play to the things we watch, and all the data of public institutions (police, ministries, population records, health records, etc.).
***
The most painful part is that the government now takes statements like “You are subordinates,” “You take orders from Ankara,” and “You work on instructions” as compliments rather than insults.
They say, “Yes, we are.”
Well, of course; you want to look good to the person you owe your seat to.
Since they weren't elected by the Turkish Cypriot community, they have no concern for pleasing the community.
It's enough that Ankara loves them.
***
So what I'm saying is;
Our situation is crystal clear.
There's nothing left to hide,
No one feels the need to hide anything.
This place is Ankara's backyard, a subordinate administration under its control.
Our only salvation is a federal peace, an agreement, a union...
Otherwise, this situation will continue just like the way it is in Turkey.
Either we break this chain,
Or we will become a society that can no longer even demand freedom,
While our intellectuals and opponents are thrown into prison...
Because as they say;
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
The daughter follows
Her mother's fate...
This article was originally published on 23.02.2026
