Turk Telekom SIM Card and eSIM for Tourists

Traveling in Turkey without internet access is quite inconvenient nowadays. A local Turk Telekom SIM card is necessary if you want to stay connected to the internet, use location services, make calls, and send messages while exploring this beautiful country. This article will walk you through all the key things to know about getting a Turk Telekom SIM card in Turkey as a tourist.

I. Quick Facts about Turk Telekom

Turk Telekom is the major fixed-line telephone operator and second-largest mobile network in Turkey. Here are some quick facts about this brand:

• Established: Originally founded in 1840 as the Directorate of Posts. Privatized in 2005 under the name Turk Telekom
• Branding name: Türk Telekom
• Services provided: Fixed line telephony, mobile telephony, broadband internet, TV services
• Number of subscribers: Around 48 million in total across all services as of 2021
• Number of stores: Over 2,500 across Turkey
• Customer service: Available 24/7 online, by phone and in stores
• Awards: Named “Service Provider of the Year” at Telecoms World Middle East Awards 2021

II. Why Turk Telekom When You’re Exploring Turkey – Coverage and Speed

2.1 Turk Telekom Coverage in Turkey

Based on the Opensignal Report for Türkiye from June 2024, here are the key insights regarding Türk Telekom’s coverage:

1. Coverage Experience:
   Türk Telekom scored 5.2 out of 10 for the Coverage Experience metric, which measures the extent of mobile network coverage in areas where users would reasonably expect to find coverage. Turkcell performed better with a score of 7.2, while Vodafone scored 5.9.
2. Availability:
   The report shows that Türk Telekom users had access to either a 3G, 4G, or 5G connection 98.8% of the time, which was slightly higher than Turkcell (98.5%) and Vodafone (98.5%).

While Türk Telekom’s network availability was marginally better than its competitors at 98.8%, its Coverage Experience score of 5.2 lagged behind Turkcell (7.2) and Vodafone (5.9). This suggests that despite high availability, the quality and extent of Türk Telekom’s coverage in populated areas could be improved compared to other operators.

2.2 Turk Telekom Speed

Based on the latest Opensignal Report, here are the key findings related to Türk Telekom’s speed performance:

• Download Speed Experience: Türk Telekom had an average download speed of 27.8 Mbps, which was slower than Turkcell’s 37.6 Mbps but faster than Vodafone’s 19.4 Mbps.
• Upload Speed Experience: Türk Telekom’s average upload speed was 12.1 Mbps, slightly behind Turkcell’s 12.7 Mbps but ahead of Vodafone’s 9.5 Mbps.

In summary, while not the fastest for download speeds, Türk Telekom demonstrated reasonably good speed performance, ranking second behind Turkcell for both download and upload speeds among the three major operators in Türkiye. However, Turkcell maintained a clear lead in download speed experience over Türk Telekom and Vodafone.

III. Turk Telekom Connectivity Options for Travelers to Turkey

There are three main ways travelers to Turkey can get internet and cell service:

Getting a local Turk Telekom SIM card is generally the most convenient and cost-effective option for travelers. Rentals of pocket WiFi are very beneficial for team travels whereas roaming is often quite costly and be avoided.

IV. Best Turk Telekom SIM Card for Tourists & Cost

Turk Telekom provides prepaid and postpaid SIM cards. Prepaid SIM cards are the best option because they don’t require any long-term contract or commitment.

Some top prepaid SIM card choices for tourists:

Overall, the Welcome 25GB package is the best choice since it offers a variety of plans that are the most suitable for almost all tourists traveling to Turkey.

Overall Turk Telekom tourist SIM Cards provide an excellent value to stay connected during your Turkey travel.

V. Does Turk Telekom Support eSIM in Turkey?

Yes,  Turk Telekom does support eSIM activation for its plans on compatible iPhone models, providing additional connectivity flexibility for citizens currently.

Some benefits of eSIM include:

• More convenience – no risk of losing a SIM card
• Use dual SIM functionality on iPhone
• Quickly switch between data plans

While Turk Telekom does not directly provide eSIM yet, there are some third-party eSIM providers that partner with Turk Telekom’s network like Turkey eSIM.

VI. Where Can You Buy a Turk Telekom SIM and eSIM?

6.1. Where to Buy Turk Telekom SIM Card for Turkey

You can easily buy a Turk Telekom SIM card at the following locations:

• Istanbul Airport – Turk Telekom store on the arrivals floor of the domestic landside.

• Turk Telekom stores – Türk Telekom has numerous retail stores throughout Turkey, known as “TT Stores” or “Türk Telekom İletişim Merkezleri.” These stores are located in most cities and towns, and you can easily purchase a SIM card from them.

• Supermarkets and convenience stores: Many supermarket chains and convenience stores in Turkey sell Türk Telekom SIM cards as well. Popular chains like BIM, A101, ŞOK, and Migros often have a small Türk Telekom section where you can buy SIM cards and top-up vouchers.
• Third-party resellers: There are also independent resellers and kiosks, often located in shopping malls, tourist areas, or near popular attractions, that sell Türk Telekom SIM cards. However, it’s generally recommended to purchase from official Türk Telekom stores or authorized resellers to ensure you get an authentic and properly registered SIM card.

When purchasing, you will need to show your passport as ID. The sales staff can assist you with activating your new Turk Telekom SIM card right away.

6.2 Where to Buy Turk Telekom eSIM in Turkey

Since Turk Telekom does not directly offer eSIM service yet, you’ll need to purchase from a third-party eSIM provider instead.

Turkeyesim.com is an eSIM provider that offers eSIM plans from various Turkish operators, including Turk Telekom. You can purchase a Turk Telekom eSIM plan through their website, and we will provide you with the necessary QR code to scan and activate the eSIM on your compatible device.

Some advantages of using turkeyesim.com include:

• Convenience of ordering online before arriving in Turkey
• Availability of various data packages and plan options
• Ability to set up the eSIM without visiting a physical store
• Support in multiple languages

It’s worth noting that to use an eSIM, your device must be eSIM-compatible, and you may need to check if your device supports the eSIM functionality for the specific carrier you choose.

VII. How to Activate Turk Telekom SIM/eSIM in Turkey

7.1 How to Use Turk Telekom SIM Card in Turkey

You only need to follow these simple steps and everything will be ready:

1. Insert the SIM card: Locate the SIM card slot on your device
2. Power on your device: Turn on your device and wait for it to recognize the SIM card
3. Activate the SIM card: In most cases, the Turk Telekom SIM card will be pre-activated
4. Set up APN
5. Check your services.

With these steps completed, your Turk Telekom SIM will be ready to use for calls, texts and internet in Turkey!

7.2 How to Activate Turk Telekom eSIM

Getting started with a Turk Telekom eSIM for Turkey is quite easy as follows:

1. Install the eSIM: Download from the provider app or enter the voucher code
2. Activate the eSIM: Follow provider instructions to activate the plan
3. Set up the eSIM: Configure eSIM profile on your phone
4. Start using the eSIM: Once activated and set up, you can start using its services

And that’s it! With a few quick steps, your Turk Telekom eSIM will be ready for internet access, calls, and texts in Turkey.

VIII. Turkey Turk Telekom Call & SMS Rates

Turk Telekom prepaid SIM cards come with some initial domestic calling and messaging credit included. You can then purchase top-up credit as needed. Here are the current Turk Telekom prepaid rates:

So with a Turk Telekom SIM, you can make affordable calls and send texts while visiting Turkey. Top-up as required to maintain your credit balance.

IX. Useful USSD Codes for Turk Telekom SIM/eSIM

USSD codes are special number combinations you can dial to check your Turk Telekom SIM card balance and other info. Simply dial the codes below and press call:

• Call “9333” or by dialing *100# from your phone to check your data balance
• Type KALAN WCOME XXGB Send to 5555 to check your balance inquiry.

Enter these USSD codes on your phone’s dial pad when using a Turk Telekom SIM to quickly access useful account info and settings.

X. How to Top-up Turk Telekom SIM/eSIM

When your Turk Telekom prepaid credit starts running low, you can easily top-up both physical SIMs and eSIMs. Here are some ways to top-up your Turk Telekom SIM:

• Online using credit card via Turk Telekom app or website
• Vouchers purchased from stores, kiosks and sales points
• Cash payments at Turk Telekom stores

Top-ups come in various amounts from 10 TL to 500 TL. Enter the voucher pin or payment confirmation to add credit instantly to your Turk Telekom SIM.

XI. FAQs about Turk Telekom in Turkey

XII. Final Words

In summary, getting a Turk Telekom SIM card is the best way for tourists to stay connected with mobile data, calls and messages while visiting Turkey. Consider Turkey eSIM for smooth connectivity during your trip.