Telephones in Istanbul. Istanbul mobile network and telephone operators.
There are 3 national mobile operators in Turkey:
1) Turkcell
2) Vodafone (Telsim)
3) AveA
Moreover, the territory of Turkish republic falls into the zone, where global satellite network company "Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications" operates.
All mobile operators use GSM standard, with 900-MHz frequency band, and only AveA additionally supports 1800-MHz frequency band.
These three operators possess different coverage areas, but in Istanbul and other tourist resorts all of them are present. Looking at the quality of communication, Turkcell is the best. However, AveA and Vodafone benefit from price advantage and different promotion options.
If, while you are in Turkey, you plan to rather receive calls than give somebody a call, we advice you to buy a SIM-card (you may buy it in your country also), that in future may be used abroad (with roaming), at your native country. All operators provide such a function, but Vodafone has a special advantageous tariff for the calls to Vodafone cards in other countries.
To dial local numbers (for example: to call your guide or any representative of tourist company in Turkey) it is better to use only local SIM-cards, because the costs of local calls is low.
Turkish operators use credit system. It means, that the cost of the call depends on the "Card", your balance was recharged with. For example, if you filled up you balance with a "100 credits (kontor) Card" , so the cost per minute will be 5 credits. However, if you filled up you balance with a "250 credits (kontor) Card" , so the cost per minute will be cheaper - 2 credits.
All incoming calls and SMS messages, independently on the mobile operator you use, are Free.
All operators do not bar outgoing international calls and messages, so you may call abroad too.
We strongly advice you to buy a SIM-card in airport, if you want to have mobile network, right upon arrival, for example, in Vodafone stall, situated right in the center of arriving terminal.
Fixed location phones
Telephone network is quite qualitative.
Almost in all hotels, and, most probably, in all rooms there are fixed location phones. All calls, except intrahotel ones, require extra payment.
The calls to local agency of the touristic company, which serves you, for example calls to TurkeyTPS.com, are also Free.
Public telephones can be seen on the streets of major cities and resorts
Close to the post offices there are always public call-boxes.
For calls from public telephones you need to buy a special "Card", which may have 30, 50 or 100 credits (kontor) inside. It is better to buy these cards rather from post offices or supermarkets rather than from the street, because, if you will purchase a card from souvenirs seller or anyone from the street, it will, most probably, be expired or empty.
Telephone codes of the most visited cities of Turkey
Ankara: (312)
Istanbul: (European part - 212), (Asian part - 216)
Izmir: (232)
Antalya: (242)
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