SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 or 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K dated August 1, 2003
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TURKCELL ILETISIM HIZMETLERI A.S.
Turkcell Plaza
Mesrutiyet Caddesi No.153
80050 Tepebasi
Istanbul, Turkey
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes: |_| No: |X|
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Yes: |_| No: |X|
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information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Enclosures: Press release dated August 1, 2003 - Turkcell provides update on
dispute with Turk Telekom on Interconnection Fee Structure
[LOGO]
TURKCELL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TURKCELL PROVIDES UPDATE ON DISPUTE WITH TURK TELEKOM ON
INTERCONNECTION FEE STRUCTURE
Istanbul, Turkey: August 1, 2003--Turkcell (NYSE:TKC, ISE: TCELL), the leading
provider of mobile communications services in Turkey, has today announced an
update on Turk Telekom's claims regarding the interconnection fee structure
contained in the Interconnection Agreement ("Agreement") signed between Turkcell
and Turk Telekom on April 24, 1998.
Turk Telekom today partially resumed its monthly interconnection payments to
Turkcell under the Agreement and paid TL 39.5 trillion (approximately US$ 27.8
million) for June 2003. However, Turkcell believes that this amount is
substantially lower than the amount that Turk Telekom should have paid under the
Agreement. Although Turkcell currently does not know how the calculation is
made, Turk Telekom's basis for calculation violates the decision of the Ankara
Seventh Commercial Court of July 17, 2003, that the terms of the Agreement
should remain in effect until the parties reach a new interconnection agreement.
Turkcell will continue to take necessary legal action against Turk Telekom.
Additionally, Turkcell is currently engaged in negotiations with Turk Telekom to
reach a consent on the new Interconnection Agreement which should be renewed
according to the Access and Interconnection Regulation introduced recently. The
new regulation directs that the interconnection tariffs should be based on the
cost bases of the signing parties.
Background to Dispute
In November 2000, Turk Telekom demanded that Turkcell share all interconnection
fees equally with Turk Telekom going forward and retrospectively from April 1998
as a result of the favorable decision obtained by the Turkish Electrical
Engineer's Society in its lawsuit against Turk Telekom filed with the Ankara
Ninth Administrative Court in October 2000. In that lawsuit, the Turkish
Electrical Engineer's Society claimed that the interconnection fee regime set
out in the Interconnection Agreement between Turkcell and Turk Telekom violated
public policy. There are two pending lawsuits filed by Turkcell against Turk
Telekom in the Turkish Commercial Courts.
In June 2003, Turk Telekom stopped making monthly interconnection payments to
Turkcell after the injunction ensuring the continuation of the monthly payments
under the Agreement was lifted. However, on July 17, 2003, the Ankara Seventh
Commercial Court decided that the terms of the Agreement should remain in effect
until the parties reach a new interconnection agreement.
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www.turkcell.com.tr
About Turkcell
Turkcell is the leading GSM operator in Turkey with approximately 16.3 million
postpaid and prepaid customers as of Mar 31, 2003. Turkcell had revenues of US$
491.1 million as of Mar 31, 2003. Turkcell provides high-quality wireless
telephone services throughout Turkey and has coverage of 100% of the towns with
more than 10,000 inhabitants. At the end of 1999, Turkcell became the first GSM
operator in Turkey to be awarded the prestigious ISO 9001 certificate for the
quality of its service. Turkcell is the only NYSE listed company in Turkey.
For further information please contact:
Turkcell Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Investors: Europe
Koray Ozturkler, Investor Relations Kate Delahunty/Oskar Yasar
Tel: +90 212 313 1500 Tel: +44 20 7282 2934
Email: koray.ozturkler@turkcell.com.tr Email: kate.delahunty@citigatedr.co.uk
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Oskar.yasar@citigatedr.co.uk
Mehmet Sezgin, Investor Relations United States
Tel: + 90 212 313 1290 Victoria Hofstad/Patrick Hughes
Email: mehmet.sezgin@turkcell.com.tr Tel: +1 212 688 6840
----------------------------- Email: victoria.hofstadqcitigatedr-ny.com
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investor.relations@turkcell.com.tr patrick.hughes@citigatedr-ny.com
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Media:
Zuhal Seker, Corporate Communications
Tel: + 90 212 313 2330
Email: zuhal.seker@turkcell.com.tr
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Okan Karagoz, Corporate Communications
Tel: + 90 212 313 2314
Email: okan.karagoz@turkcell.com.tr
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Internet: www.turkcell.com.tr
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S. has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
TURKCELL ILETISIM HIZMETLERI A.S.
Date: August 1, 2003 By: /s/ MUZAFFER AKPINAR
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Name: Muzaffer Akpinar
Title: Chief Executive Officer