The Satellite That Was Criticized That Day Has Been Serving Our Country for Years

The highlights of President Erdoğan's statements are as follows: "Our space adventure, which started 32 years ago with the Türksat-1B satellite, has reached unimaginable levels today. By working with faith, determination and effort, we have signed a historical success story, every sentence of which was written with knowledge, experience and sweat. Each stage of this 32-year struggle is actually the story of how the work and service policy in our country has been carried out by overcoming obstacles.

If you remember, when we launched the Türksat 3A satellite into space in 2008, some people teased us in an arrogant manner, as they always do. By belittling the project and looking for deficiencies, mistakes and flaws in the project, they showed what kind of mentality they actually had. The satellite that was criticized that day has been serving our country for years.

We continued the momentum we gained in the satellite field after 2008. Türksat-4A took its place in space in 2004, and Türksat-4B took its place in space in 2015. By launching Türksat-5A and Türksat-5B in 2021, we made our name among the rare countries that can send two satellites into space in the same year. Last year, we put our first local and national communication satellite, Türksat-6A, into service. With Türksat-6A, the number of our communication satellites increased to 6 and the total number of satellites in space increased to 10. We increased our country's earth observation and exploration capabilities from space with our Göktürk-1 and 2 satellites.

We crossed a new threshold in terms of image resolution, communication speed and maneuverability with the İmece satellite we sent into space 3 years ago. "For Türkiye, developing satellite capabilities is a necessity rather than a choice. When we look at the events around us, we can see this very clearly.

The prominent character of the age we live in is information, knowledge and data. All states, without exception, are in intense competition to adapt to the information age. Not only states but also large companies are trying to have a say in this field.

Satellite technologies are one of the areas where competition between states and companies is fierce. As Türkiye, we strive to take the place we deserve in this race. We are currently one of the 11 countries that can produce their own communications satellite.

Work continues on our İmece-2 and İmece-3 satellites, as well as Göktürk-Y and Göktürk-3, which will meet our different needs. In addition, our Türksat 7A project will further strengthen our country's digital sovereignty and strengthen our secure communication infrastructure. It is a fact that satellite technologies have a multiplier effect on the power components of countries.

Satellites play a strategic role in many areas, from intelligence to communication, from defense industry to mapping. For Türkiye, which acts with the principle that those who have a mark in space have a say in the world, developing satellite capabilities is more than a choice, it is a necessity. Even though those whose horizons do not extend beyond their noses may not understand what we are doing or what kind of vision we act with, we will continue to walk with firm steps on the path we know is right.

"We are not leaving Istanbul to its fate" We continue our service and work policy while carrying out the preparations for the projects that will mark the next quarter century and half century of Turkey. Since our last meeting, we have had the pleasure of adding new investments to the bottom line of Türkiye and our cities. We do not abandon our beloved Istanbul, entrusted to us by Sultan Fatih, to its fate.

We continue to improve the transportation infrastructure of Istanbul, where people are forced to sleep in their cars to avoid being late for work. Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Halkalı metro project, which has 16 stations and a length of 69 kilometers, is one of them. Thank God, we have completed this important project with the Halkalı-Arnavutköy section, which we officially opened on June 19. Thus, we put one of the longest metro lines, not only in Türkiye but in the world, at the service of our Istanbul and our country. Thanks to the new line, travel times between the settlements on the route have been significantly reduced.