One of the first companies to provide independent Internet service in Turkey was founded in a basement in May of 1995 by two friends, Ahmet Yurekli and Pinar Kaprali. They named it “Turk Nokta Net” (TNN), and launched the trial service six months later. TNN has since become one of Turkey's leading ISPs, serving nearly 55,000 Internet users nationwide.
Turk Nokta Net has put its signature on many firsts in its field. It became so successful in such a short period of time that Sabanci Holding, one of Turkey's largest commercial conglomerates, decided to take its first step in the communications field in cooperation with TNN.
The partnership actually began much earlier. Back in the fall of 1996, Ahmet Yurekli and his colleagues wanted to put Turk Nokta Net on the map. They considered inviting two people to the TNN stand at a communications fair — Bill Gates and Sakip Sabanci.
"Gates refused us very politely. We asked for an appointment to see Sakip Sabanci. He accepted,'' said Yureki, TNN's general manager. "He asked us what we did, what we were trying to create, were there problems with state authorities and so forth? The answers pleased him. 'I'll come,' he said and he did." After that, business quickly began booming.
In the next couple of years, more than 100 ISPs (Internet services providers) sprouted out in Turkey. But Turk Nokta Net succeeded in securing its dominance among the competition, thanks to the early investments it made.
It was then necessary to examine new opportunities. Yurekli explained "the business had reached the point where it needed serious capital, both for investment and for marketing. We decided that we needed a big partner before entering the 2000’s. We first met with foreigners, but later the Sabanci group entered the scene." Four years after TNN’s birth, Sabanci purchased 70 percent of the company for $25 million.
”Our short-term goal is to ensure that the Internet becomes part of the daily life in Turkey,'' Yurekli said. "As for our long-term goal, it is to be ready for Sabanci Holding's initiatives regarding telecommunications." — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
