Strengths of IT in Turkey (analysis)

Competitive advantage of Turkey in IT

In 1990, Turkey ranked second in Europe for telecommunications infrastructure. Recent advances in telecommunications technology and implementation in Europe changed that ranking, but the idea remains that Turkey has undertaken a major change program f or its telecommunications infrastructure during the 1980's. As a result, Türk Telekom and the other telecom firms all together offer today all services available in any other country, except for high speed lines such as ISDN, ATM, Frame Relay or T1. Sophisticated paging systems, cellular telephones, X.25 lines, cable TV, and other small telephone services such as call waiting, conference calling, call block, and call forwarding are all available today in Turkey.

As far as computerization is concerned, the Turkish government has been sensitive to the issue and has made efforts to facilitate the process by reducing tariffs on computer hardware and software. Autimation and/or computerization is being implemented in every industry and in every sector. The government itself is spending huge amounts of money on computerizing the police force and its ministries. Wide-area networks are being implemented as part of these programs, in coordination with Koç-Unisys, T urkey's second largest computer firm.

Investment opportunities

Any firm who wishes to invest in Turkey will find a very satisfactory telecommunications infrastructure already in place. Internet access is available and easy to obtain. A few internet service providers are now beginning to show up. A firm or individ ual applying for a telephone line will have it connected within less than a week.

The Turkish computer market is between its growth and early maturity stages. Computers of any kind can be found and purchased at a reasonable price. The same is true about computer peripherals. Database programs such as accounting or inventory control pac kages are ubiquitous. A very wide choice of very well written packages is available on the market. In addition, all U.S. software programs including system software, CAD packages, and process control systems can be found in Turkey. After-sales support is also available. Though software stores such as the ones found in the U.S. are not many, their number is increasing at a slow pace, limited by the piracy problem. Yet, companies shop for their software needs right from the manufacturing software houses.

To illustrate how the IT infrastructure makes it adequate to invest in Turkey, it is enough to recall that Microsoft has recently installed a subsidiary in Istanbul responsible for sales ans support to all of the Middle-East, Central Asia and Northern Afr ica. Should telecommunications not be highly developed in Turkey, an IT form such as Microsoft would have selected another site for its operation in that region.

Software development

The number of software houses in Turkey is overwhelming. Such firms produce CAD packages, accounting planning, inventory control, and other database analysis programs, as well as customized software for financial, manufacturing, and other applications .

A number of very skilled systems engineers and computer programmers operate in Turkey. Finally, a few information systems consulting companies started to form and to compete with the already established major U.S. consulting firms.

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