GSM-based mobile communication started in Turkey when Turkcell started its operations in February 1994. Turkcell signed a 25-year GSM license contract on April 27, 1998 with the Ministry of Transportation of Turkey. Since then, it has continuously increased the variety of its services based on mobile audio and data communication, its quality levels and as a result, number of subscribers. As of December 31, 2008, Turkcell has made 7,7 billion US dollars worth of investment in Turkey, which doesn't include the price of the license. Again as of December 31, 2008, with its 37 million subscribers, Turkcell is not only the leading operator in Turkey, but is also the third biggest GSM operator in Europe in terms of subscriber numbers.

Turkcell’s shares have been traded on Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) since July 11, 2000 and it is the first and only Turkish company ever to be listed on NYSE.