Search the Community

Internet Service Plans Companies offer a variety of plans with monthly to yearly payments. There are quite a few regional internet service providers in Turkey, but the main ones in Turkey are: TTNet TurkNet Turkcell Superonline TTNet is the ISP branch of Turk Telekom, the country's telephone service provider. If you choose TTNet, you can set up your internet service in the same office as your telephone service. If you want to use one of the other ISPs instead, just go to one of their local offices and apply after you set up your telephone account. Making Payments Even if you go with Turk Telekom's internet plan, you will get a separate bill for your internet service. You can pay the bill at the PTT (Turkish post office), or at any bank listed on the back of the bill. You can also have your payments automatically deducted from your bank account. Just take your bill to the bank, along with your passport and your residence permit, then keep enough money in the account to make the monthly payments. If you miss a payment, your service will be cut off. With TTNet, this will be announced on your computer screen when you try to access the Internet after it has been cut off. The announcement will have a link to an online system so you can pay your bill with a credit card. As soon as you pay, your service will be restored. See Also How to find out if your neighborhood is set up for high-speed internet: If you need high-speed internet, it's a good idea to make sure your intended home is wired with high-speed fiber-optic cables. This guide explains how to check and make sure. Telephones and Internet Forum External Links TTNet: Internet service provider of Turk Telekom. You can set up your internet service at the same time you set up your residential phone service. TTNet Internet Package Prices: The price list for what they offer. DSmart: Also offers satellite television services, so if you want satellite TV, you can combine your internet services with your satellite service. TurkNet Turkcell Superonline Doğan Online

Airports Airports in Turkey have Wi-Fi access, but it's not free. When you open your browser, you'll immediately be directed to a page which asks for your credit card details to pay for it. Hotels Some of the luxury hotels in Turkey both Wi-Fi access in their rooms, as well as hard-wired Ethernet (RJ-45) data ports you can connect to with a LAN cable. less posh hotels and pensions have repeaters or wireless routers mounted in the hallways of each floor. Cheaper pensions may only have WiFi access in the lobby or community room. Before you book, check to see if free WiFi access is available and where you can access it. Restaurants, Cafes and Bars The better eating and drinking establishments, especially those with tourists as their clientele, will have WiFi available. If they don't, one nearby probably will. Internet Cafes Even small towns have internet cafes in Turkey. They charge cheap rates by the hour, and offer snacks, drinks, and tea for their guests. They usually have Wi-Fi access as well as fixed computer stations. Internet cafes are also havens for teenage boys who play video games, chat with or message their friends, and generally hang out in the hopes of meeting a girl, so they can get crowded during non-school hours. Public Areas Some cities and towns have free public Wi-Fi in public areas. Check for available connections which don't have a "lock" icon. That means you can use the connection for free, and without a password. In Kaş, Antalya for example, you can use the Belediye, or municipality, public WiFi connection whenever you are within range. Internet Access for Smart Phones and Laptops Without a Wi-Fi Connection You can access the Internet with a smart phone or laptop anywhere in Turkey, even when no WiFi connection is available. Smart Phones If you have SIM card with one of Turkey's mobile service providers (TurkCell, Vodafone, or Avea) you can use "cellular data" from anywhere in Turkey. Since your phone will can also use the local cellular towers to connect, you won't need a WiFi connection. You get some free cellular data credit when you recharge your mobile phone credit. After your free cellular data credit is used up, the system will start deducting credit from your account. To use cellular data, find the option on your phone and turn it on. It's a good idea to keep cellular data turned off when you are not using it, because your phone may connect to the cellular data network even when you think you are using WiFi. It will also automatically download your e-mail and other "push data" if your phone is set to do so, thereby using mobile phone credit unnecessarily. Turn it off when you aren't using it. Laptops Turkey's mobile service providers offer small USB devices (dongles) which connect to the internet using the cellular data system. You can purchase these devices at any of your network provider's shops. Just buy the device and load the software, plug in the dongle and let it connect, and you will be able to access the internet anywhere in Turkey. Long-distance Buses Some of the larger bus companies, such as Pamukkale and Kamil Koç, offer free WiFi access on their large long-distance motor coaches. It is not available on smaller buses used for shorter trips. Internet Security Since you'll be accessing the internet in places with an unknown level of security, here are a few ways to minimize risk: Install a firewall on your laptop if you don't already have one. This will protect your computer from intrusions. Late-model Windows and Macintosh computers have them already installed. You can also use one included with an anti-virus or security program. Whatever firewall you use, make sure you download and install the latest updates for it before you travel. Don't send sensitive information, like credit card details over the internet unless it is to a website you trust, and which is secure and encrypted. If the website you are communicating with is secure, its web address will have the prefix "https://" instead of "http://." Use complex passwords of at least twelve characters, with lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, as well as special characters. Change your passwords before you travel. You can change them back when you go home. Memorize your passwords or use a password management program. Don't store them unprotected on your computer, write them down, or store them on the web. Theft Prevention Don't rely on your hotel's security to prevent the theft of your laptop. The door locks on most cheap hotels and pensions are only meant to keep honest people out. When you go out without your laptop, store it in a safe in your room, or in a safe at reception. If the hotel or pension clerk offers to watch it for you, ask him or her to put it in a locked room, or somewhere inaccessible to anyone but them. See Also Telephones and Internet Forum External Links Turkcell: Turkey's largest mobile services provider. Vodafone: Turkey's second largest mobile services provider. Avea: Turkey's third largest mobile services provider.

It's quick and easy to set up Skype. Just connect to the Internet, download the program, and run it. Next set up your profile and account. You'll select a username and password, and your username will serve as your Skype identity. You'll then be instructed to run a test to make sure it's working properly. What You Will Need Besides a high-speed internet connection, you'll need a microphone and speakers (or a headset with a microphone), and a webcam if you want to make video calls. What You Can Do with Skype Call other Skype users, anywhere in the world, for free. Make video calls if you and the other user have a webcam Call landline and mobile phones at a fraction of the price of an overseas call Send instant messages to other Skype users and mobile phones (there is a fee for sending SMS messages to mobile phones) How You Pay for Calling Landlines and Mobile Phones If you only use Skype for calling other Skype users, it's completely free. If you want to call landlnes or mobile phones, you must have credit in your Skype account. You can buy Skype credit with your credit card or PayPal account whenever you want, or you can set it up so Skype automatically deducts money from your credit card or PayPal account when you run low on Skype credit. Skype for Mobile Devices Skype also has an application for smart phones, called "Skype to Go." Because it's computer and internet-based, it uses the computer in your smart phone (not the mobile phone part) to connect to a WiFi signal and the Internet. All you have to do is find a cafe with WiFi, and Skype away. You can check the Skype website to see if your mobile device will work with Skype to Go. Call Forwarding You can even have Skype forward your calls to your mobile phone when you are away from your computer. Regional Skype Number for Non-Skype Users to Call You You can purchase a "Skype Number," which is an actual, regular telephone number, complete with the area code you choose. By choosing an area code which is the same as your family and friends, they can call you at the rates they would normally pay for calling a phone number in the same area code (usually free). Message System If someone calls you on Skype, or by using your Skype number, they can leave a message. Skype will send you an e-mail to let you know that someone has called, and provide a link so you can log in to Skype and listen to the message they left. Emergency Numbers Skype can't call Turkey's national emergency numbers, such as the national 112 emergency number. You will need a regular telephone to do that. You should consider Skype to be a complement to your existing telephone rather than relying on Skype for all calls. See Also Internet Services in Turkey Forum External Links Skype: In English and Turkish. Skype's official website.