Türkiye is actively advancing its own satellite-based navigation system, the Bölgesel Konumlama ve Zamanlama Sistemi (BKZS), aimed at establishing a regional positioning and timing infrastructure. As outlined in the 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy, BKZS is designed to deliver precise positioning and timing data through domestically developed satellites, reducing reliance on foreign GNSS systems.
Key Developments:
• Atomic Clock CubeSat: A collaboration between the TÜBİTAK National Metrology Institute and the Turkish Space Agency is underway to develop a rubidium atomic clock integrated into a 6U CubeSat, which is currently undergoing testing.
• Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS): Türkiye is working to implement an SBAS to enhance the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of GNSS services across the region.
• Private Sector Involvement: Companies such as Fergani Space, founded by Selçuk Bayraktar, are contributing to the initiative. Fergani plans to launch approximately 100 microsatellites into low Earth orbit to support both communication and positioning services.
Prerequisites:
• Strong political mandate and sustained funding
• Spectrum/ITU coordination and filings and regional regulatory framework
• Partnerships with established GNSS/space primes and launch providers
• Technical Infrastructure (Servers and Storage, Network, GNSS Receivers)
• Technical expertise for system development, integration and operations
• Partnerships with GNSS providers and technical vendors
• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planning
• Legal/regulatory framework for managing and sharing PNT data
Cost:
• Ballpark: USD 0.5–4B (depending on constellation size and reliance on augmentation)
• Includes: mission design and system architecture, satellite procurement and AIV (assembly, integration & verification), launch services and insurance, ground control segment and monitoring stations, signal certification and standardization, training and operations
Timeframe:
• Overall: 96–144 mo
• Phase: feasibility and system design (24–36 mo), procurement/build/testing (48–72 mo), launch/commissioning/certification (24–36 mo)
Pros:
• Strategic Autonomy - Achieve independence from external systems, particularly valuable in defence scenarios.
• Regional Coverage - Deliver high-accuracy positioning in Korea and surrounding regions.
• Custom Services - Provide encrypted signals tailored for government and defence applications.
• Economic Potential - Boost sectors like location-based services, agriculture, disaster management, and logistics.
Considerations:
• Limited Global Reach - Acknowledge that the system is regionally focused, unlike GPS or Galileo, though global expansion is planned.
• Potential High Maintenance Costs - Prepare for ongoing investments in satellite replacement, ground infrastructure, and system updates.
• Dependency on Turkish Government Resources if developed - Consider the risks of relying heavily on a single national space agency, which may limit innovation or scalability.
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