TRNC will have 4.5G in 2023 - Minister

The TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı, has announced that 2023 will be a year of accomplishments in terms of public works and infrastructure.

He said that the country will switch to 4.5G, the new Ercan Airport will become operational and every household will have access to fibre-optic internet before the end of this year.

Arıklı also said that the work on the Girne-Alsancak Dual Carriageway being carried out with local financing is near completion.

Speaking about planned projects for 2023 during a programme he attended on Tuesday, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı said that despite all the negative developments, the tender to introduce 4.5/5G in the TRNC had been launched and that service will become available within 6 months.

Stating that they had chosen Gönyeli as a pilot area for the fibre-optic infrastructure project, he said, “We have created significant resources for the government from the 4.5/5G tenders. I hope that a portion of this money will be made available for the ministry so that it can be used to carry out the fiber-internet project.”

Also touching upon work at Ercan Airport, Arıklı said that the new airport terminal had been completed with technical equipment installed.

Stating that test flights will start in February, Minister Arıklı noted that the plan was to officially open the new airport before the start of the new tourism season.

He also stated that despite all the obstacles, road projects were continuing with the support of the Republic of Türkiye.

“We built the Girne-Alsancak dual carriageway, which has been pending for ten years, with our own resources. There are a few areas which need to be expropriated. If we can get past our bureaucracy and speed up the process, we will complete the western section of the Lefkoşa-North Ring Road extending to Alayköy in a short time which in turn will relieve the traffic in Lefkoşa,” Arıklı added.