Türk Telekom (Avea) eSIM — coverage, plans & network
Türkiye
Key highlights
- Mobile network formed in 2004 as Avea, from the merger of Aycell and Aria
- Avea brand retired in January 2016 — mobile now runs under the Türk Telekom name
- ~27 million mobile lines; Türkiye's integrated fixed + mobile incumbent
- Nationwide LTE marketed as 4.5G since April 2016; 5G arriving from 2026 after the October 2025 spectrum auction
- Majority-owned by the Türkiye Wealth Fund since 2022
About the operator
Türk Telekom is one of Türkiye's three nationwide mobile operators — the network formerly known as Avea, rebranded under the Türk Telekom name in 2016. Headquartered in Ankara, the group also owns the country's largest fixed-line and fiber infrastructure and serves roughly 27 million mobile lines.
The mobile business began in 2004 as Avea, created by merging the Aycell and Aria networks. Türk Telekom became its majority owner in 2006 and, after taking full control, retired the Avea brand in January 2016, folding mobile, home internet (TTNET) and fixed telephony under a single Türk Telekom brand. That is why many people still search for "Avea" — it is the same network, now sold and serviced as Türk Telekom mobile.
For visitors, Türk Telekom's network covers Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia, the Aegean coast and the roads between them with nationwide LTE, marketed locally as 4.5G. AviaeSIM's prepaid Türkiye travel eSIMs connect to this network and install by QR code before you fly, so you skip the airport SIM kiosks and the passport registration that local SIM purchases require.
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Türkiye
- Group
- Türkiye Wealth Fund (majority shareholder)
- Network
- 4G (4.5G), 5G
- Subscribers
- ~27M mobile lines in Türkiye
Network & technology
Türk Telekom runs a nationwide LTE network, launched in April 2016 and marketed in Türkiye as 4.5G, with the strongest coverage in cities, along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts and on major highways; remote mountain areas may fall back to 3G. Türkiye auctioned 5G spectrum in October 2025 and commercial 5G service began rolling out in 2026, starting with major cities and airports. The mobile network is backhauled by Türk Telekom's fiber backbone — the largest fixed network in the country.
Reputation & market position
Türk Telekom is Türkiye's historical telecom incumbent and one of three national mobile operators alongside Turkcell and Vodafone, competing with Vodafone for second place in mobile subscribers behind market leader Turkcell. It is known for bundling mobile with home fiber and TV, and for aggressive pricing on combined plans, while Turkcell tends to lead independent speed tests. Since 2022 it has been majority-owned by the Türkiye Wealth Fund.
Pros
- Nationwide 4.5G/LTE with strong coverage in Istanbul, Antalya and other tourist regions
- Backed by Türkiye's largest fiber backbone for reliable capacity
- Long-established incumbent with dense coverage in cities and along coasts
- With an AviaeSIM travel plan on this network, no airport kiosk queues or passport registration
Cons
- Trails market leader Turkcell in share and in most independent speed tests
- 5G arrived late — commercial service only began rolling out in 2026
- Local SIM or eSIM purchase requires in-person passport registration, and phones brought from abroad face Türkiye's IMEI registration rules for longer stays
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your Turkey eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the Türk Telekom (Avea) network
- 2Pay and receive your eSIM QR code by email
- 3Scan the QR code in your phone's settings to install it
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Avea — is it the same as Türk Telekom?
Yes. Avea was Türkiye's third mobile operator, created in 2004 from the merger of Aycell and Aria. Türk Telekom became its majority owner in 2006 and retired the Avea name in January 2016, moving all mobile service under the single Türk Telekom brand. The network and subscribers carried over, so searching for Avea today leads to Türk Telekom mobile.
Does Türk Telekom support eSIM?
Yes, Türk Telekom issues eSIMs for its own plans, but as a visitor you must register in person with your passport, and phones brought from abroad can only use Turkish SIMs for a limited period before Türkiye's IMEI registration rules apply. A prepaid AviaeSIM travel eSIM on this network installs by QR code before you fly and is not affected by those rules.
How do I get mobile data for a trip to Istanbul or Antalya?
You have two paths: buy a tourist SIM at an airport kiosk after landing, which means queues and passport registration, or install a prepaid travel eSIM before you fly. AviaeSIM's Türkiye plans run on the Türk Telekom network, activate by QR code and start working when you land — just pick a data amount and validity that matches your trip.
How much does a Türk Telekom eSIM cost?
Türk Telekom's own eSIM comes as part of its regular prepaid or postpaid tariffs, so the cost is the plan price plus any activation fee, and tourist tariffs sold at airports are typically priced above standard resident plans. AviaeSIM's prepaid Türkiye travel eSIMs are priced by data volume and validity — current prices are listed on the Türkiye plans page.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-07