Utilities in Istanbul



Utilities in Istanbul covers the topic of public utility services in the city of Istanbul, Turkey.

Water supply
The first water supply systems which were built in Istanbul date back to the foundation of the city. Two of the greatest aqueducts built in the Roman period are the Mazulkemer Aqueduct and the Valens Aqueduct. These aqueducts were built in order to channel water from the Halkalı area in the western edge of the city to the Beyazıt district in the city center, which was known as the Forum Tauri in the Roman period. After reaching the city center, the water was later collected in the city's numerous cisterns, such as the famous Philoxenos (Binbirdirek) Cistern and the Basilica (Yerebatan) Cistern.

Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned Mimar Sinan, his engineer and architect-in-chief, to improve the water needs of the city. Sinan constructed the Kırkçeşme Water Supply System in 1555. In later years, with the aim of responding to the ever-increasing public demand, water from various springs was channeled to the public fountains by means of small supply lines; see German Fountain.

Today, Istanbul has a chlorinated and filtered water supply and a sewage disposal system managed by the government agency İSKİ. There are also several private sector organizations distributing clean water.

Electricity in Istanbul
Electricity distribution services are covered by the state-owned TEK. The first electricity production plant in the city, Silahtarağa Termik Santrali, was established in 1914 and continued to supply electricity until 1983.

Historical Development
The history of electricity in Istanbul dates back to the early 20th century. The first electricity production plant in the city, Silahtarağa Power Station (Silahtarağa Elektrik Santralı), was established in 1914. This plant was the primary source of electricity for Istanbul and continued to supply power until 1983. It played a critical role in the city's industrialization and modernization efforts during the early Republic period.

Silahtarağa Power Station, located on the Golden Horn, was initially coal-fired and later converted to operate on fuel oil. The plant's establishment marked the beginning of the city's electrification, providing power for public lighting, trams, and industrial enterprises. Its closure in 1983 led to the repurposing of the site, and it has since been transformed into SantralIstanbul, an energy museum and cultural center.

Modern Electricity Infrastructure
Electricity distribution services in Istanbul are currently managed by the state-owned Turkish Electricity Distribution Corporation (TEK). TEK oversees the distribution of electricity throughout the city, ensuring that residential, commercial, and industrial areas receive a stable and reliable power supply.

In addition to TEK, there are several private sector organizations involved in the electricity market. These companies operate under the regulation and supervision of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA), ensuring compliance with national standards and regulations.

Renewable Energy Initiatives
In recent years, Istanbul has seen significant investments in renewable energy sources. The city is working towards integrating more sustainable and eco-friendly power solutions to reduce its carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. Solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric power are some of the renewable energy initiatives being implemented to diversify the city's energy mix.

Smart Grid Technology
To enhance the efficiency and reliability of the electricity supply, Istanbul has started adopting smart grid technology. Smart grids use digital communication technology to monitor and manage the production, distribution, and consumption of electricity. This technology helps in reducing energy waste, improving outage response times, and integrating renewable energy sources more effectively.

Consumer Services and Billing
Electricity consumers in Istanbul have access to various services, including online billing, customer support, and mobile applications for managing their electricity usage. These services provide consumers with detailed information on their energy consumption patterns, enabling them to make informed decisions to reduce their energy bills and environmental impact.

Post and telecommunications
The Ottoman Ministry of Post and Telegraph was established in the city on October 23, 1840. The first post office was the Postahane-i Amire near the courtyard of the New Mosque. In 1876 the first international mailing network between Istanbul and the lands beyond the vast Ottoman Empire—which, in that year, stretched from the borders with Austria-Hungary and Russia at north to the Ottoman provinces of Yemen and Sudan at south and Tunisia at west—was established. In 1901 the first money transfers were made through the post offices and the first cargo services became operational.

Electric telegraph
Samuel Morse received his first ever patent for the telegraph in 1847, at the old Beylerbeyi Palace (the present Beylerbeyi Palace was built in 1861–1865 on the same location) in Istanbul, which was issued by Sultan Abdülmecid I who personally tested the new invention. Following this successful test, installation works of the first telegraph line between Istanbul and Edirne began on August 9, 1847. In 1855 the Telegraph Administration was established.

Telephone
In July 1881 the first telephone circuit in Istanbul was established between the Ministry of Post and Telegraph in Soğukçeşme and the Postahane-i Amire in Yenicami. On May 23, 1909, the first manual telephone exchange with a 50 line capacity was established in the Büyük Postane (Grand Post Office) in Sirkeci.

Modern communications
The first automatic telex exchange was established in November 1973. Electronic Mail was put into service between Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Adana on June 28, 1984. In November 1985 the first radio link system was put into service between Istanbul and Ankara. On October 23, 1986, mobile telephone and paging systems were put into service in Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir. On March 4, 1987, the first ever video conference in Europe was realized in Istanbul. On February 23, 1994, GSM technology was established in the city. A nationwide Internet network and connection with the World Wide Web was established in 1996.