ISTANBUL, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Turkcell (NYSE:TKC, ISE:
TCELL), the leading communications and technology company in Turkey is
delighted to announce that its fully-owned subsidiary, and one of Turkey’s
technology centers, Turkcell Technology, has been elected into the Board of
Directors of a Cooperation Platform, namely ITEA 2. ITEA 2 was established in
the interests of sustaining the competitive capacity of R&D in Europe, and is
capable of shaping the future of the continent. In addition to Turkcell
Technology, global technology giants such as Nokia, Telefonica, Philips,
Daimler, Siemens and Bosch also have seats on the Board.

Turkcell Technology CEO Semih Incedayi commented: “We believe that being
unanimously elected to ITEA 2’s Board of Directors, thanks to Turkcell
Technology’s track record of success and efficient participation in previous
projects, and its technology knowhow is invaluable for both our Company and
the country. It is essential for Turkcell Technology to play a
decision-making role together with Europe’s leading companies in the R&D
arena. Turkcell Technology considers ITEA 2 Board membership to be a
significant role undertaken on behalf of Turkey itself. This membership
provides us with a fresh channel for new experiences enabling us to expand
our country’s frontiers; while enabling us to carry out Turkey’s strategic
priorities at this focused platform. We will thoroughly support the promising
projects of Turkish companies.”

ITEA 2 supports pre-competition R&D projects in order for Europe to
maintain its leadership in the area of software-intense service and systems.
ITEA 2 is positioned under the umbrella of EUREKA, which is a platform where
market-oriented and easily commercialized products and processes are
supported in the European Union. ITEA 2 is a cooperation platform, on which
leading technology companies from different sectors come together to transfer
budgets and determine new strategies, aiming to create the most competitive
technologies in Europe in response to Asia and North America. ITEA 2 offers
fiscal support for a certain percentage of the budget of projects approved by
the board of directors. The intellectual property of studies realized within
the scope of the project goes to the shareholders. Meanwhile, established
technology infrastructures are given to participating companies. Turkcell
Technology already has eight ITEA 2 labeled projects and executes the EU and
Turkey consortium leadership of certain projects.

About Turkcell Technology:

Turkcell Technology is among Turkey’s leading R&D and innovation
companies. It was set up to develop competitive information and communication
technology (ICT) services and products. The seeds of the company were sown
with the establishment of Europe’s second-largest GSM operator, Turkcell. In
2007, the decision was taken to build a technology park company to provide an
optimum R&D and innovation environment for Turkcell technical staff
specialized in ICT. In the same year, Turkcell Technology Research &
Development was founded in the TUBITAK-MAM Technology Free Zone (TEKSEB).

Turkcell Technology has been developing services and products in the
fields of network services and providers, SIM cards and terminal solutions,
mobile Internet, mobile marketing, multimedia applications, business
intelligence solutions and business support systems.

Turkcell Technology successfully conducts its technology export
activities to the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia, the Middle
East, Africa and Europe. It aims to become a world brand in its field.

About Turkcell

Turkcell is the leading communications and technology company in Turkey
with 33.1 million subscribers and a market share of approximately 54% as of
March 31, 2011 (Source: Our estimations, operators’ and Authority’s
announcements). Turkcell is a leading regional player, with market leadership
in five of the nine countries in which it operates with its approximately
60.4 million subscribers as of March 31, 2011. Turkcell reported a TRY2.1
billion (US$1.3 billion) net revenue with total assets of TRY15.2 billion
(US$9.8 billion) as of March 31, 2011. Turkcell covers approximately 83% of
the Turkish population through its 3G and 99.07% through its 2G technology
supported network. It has become one of the first among the global operators
to have implemented HSDPA+ and achieved a 42.2 Mbps speed using the HSPA
multi carrier solution. Turkcell has been listed on the NYSE and the ISE
since July 2000, and is the only NYSE-listed company in Turkey. 51.00% of
Turkcell’s share capital is held by Turkcell Holding, 0.05% by Cukurova
Holding, 13.07% by Sonera Holding and 1.19% by others, while the remaining
34.69% is free float.

    Read more at http://www.turkcell.com.tr/en
    http://www.turkcellteknoloji.com.tr

    For further information please contact Turkcell
    Nihat Narin, Investor and International Media Relations
    Tel: +90-212-313-1244
    Email: nihat.narin@turkcell.com.tr
    investor.relations@turkcell.com.tr


    http://www.turkcell.com.tr

SOURCE Turkcell