ISTANBUL, TURKEYTurkcell will collaborate with Turkey's Directorate General of Coastal Safety on the pioneering "Remote Management of Lighthouses" project. This project will bring the latest technology to lighthouses while reinforcing existing infrastructure. The contract was signed by Sureyya Ciliv, Turkcell CEO, and Salih Orakci, Director General for Coastal Safety.
During the first phase of the project, Turkcell will provide communication between 185 lighthouses and the control center based in Istanbul. The number of lighthouses connected will reach 430 by the end of 2011.
Turkcell's coverage promises to allow seamless data transfer between lighthouses while increasing the communication distance between lighthouses and boats by 10X. Through the automated definition system, the project will enable vessels to receive up-to-date information on the weather, sea, and traffic. Turkcell's Sureyya Ciliv states, "We are proud to cover almost 100 percent of Turkish coasts, contributing to the safety of our coastlines. Our ability to deliver mobile coverage and communication even in remote locations allows us to provide a strong communication infrastructure for lighthouses."
According to statistics provided by the Minister of Transport, Binali Yildirim, 55,000 to 60,000 vessels or boats pass through the Bosphoruses every year. A modern traffic-information system has been established between Istanbul and the Canakkale channels. According to Yildirim, "The Directorate General of Coastal Safety, through its partnership with Turkcell, will be able to communicate with 185 lighthouses from the control center. Hence, vessels will be able to receive data from the lighthouses from 50 miles instead of 5 miles."