In line with the Information Society Strategy (2015–2018) prepared by the former Ministry of Development—which emphasized utilizing Turkey’s locational advantages to capture a greater share of the global data center market expected to exceed USD 50 billion by 2020—an innovative model was introduced under the KOP Action Plan (2014–2018) to assess the feasibility of establishing a Data Centers Zone in Konya. This feasibility study was commissioned by our Presidency.

The project aimed to serve as a guide for potential investors in the IT sector, raise awareness, address pre-investment feasibility requirements, and present a data centers zone concept model attractive also to international stakeholders.

With the advancement of communication technologies and infrastructure, both public and private institutions are increasingly storing and processing their data in data centers. It is well known that the locations and buildings where such centers are established must meet specific requirements regarding security, natural disaster risks, communication, and energy infrastructure. However, in Turkey, many data centers have been established without sufficient sensitivity to these requirements. Such isolated investments often lead to both resource inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities.

To minimize these issues, a global trend has emerged toward centralized data storage, and accordingly, many countries around the world have been investing in data centers. These investments are of great economic and strategic importance for host countries. Alongside the expansion of data centers, the development of fiber optic infrastructure—which is as critical as highways—could also position Turkey as a fiber optic corridor.

Within this context, the study conducted demand analysis, model design, and economic feasibility assessments for the KOP Data Centers Zone (KOP DCZ), which is envisioned to resemble Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs) or Technoparks and eventually evolve into a cluster structure. According to international standards-based site selection studies, the most suitable location for the modularly developed KOP DCZ—planned to ultimately have 50,000 m² of white space (server area)—was identified as a 960,000 m² state-owned land parcel located in Çomaklı, Meram district, Konya.

The research project identified the following features that make Konya favorable for data center investments:

• Physical and political security: Low seismic risk due to regional topography, military safety due to central location within Anatolia (indeed, during World War I, Konya was designated by the Ottoman Empire as a secure center, and important state documents were moved from Istanbul to Konya), and favorable climate conditions with low flood risk.

• Energy and communication transmission lines: The city’s geographical suitability for solar energy, along with easy access to energy and communication networks.

• Human resources: Availability of skilled human resources due to Konya’s secondary and higher education infrastructure.

• Industrial infrastructure: Support from Konya’s industrial base in providing equipment for the DCZ.

• Affordable and large land availability: Compared to other provinces hosting data centers, Konya offers wider and cheaper land.

With the realization of the project, Konya is expected to become a pioneering city in this global trend. The KOP DCZ would serve not only domestic IT companies, banks, insurance firms, and public institutions producing/storing data in Turkey, but also international IT, service, and infrastructure companies providing online services from outside Turkey, offering them an alternative location for establishing or operating facilities.

Based on Konya’s identified advantages, the project included the following activities:

• Extensive analyses and research were conducted to ensure that site selection, the project’s core activity, was based on a solid scientific foundation. Over 100 public and private institutions were interviewed, and expert studies, findings, and research were incorporated.

• Projections and sizing recommendations for the DCZ were developed, legal infrastructure requirements for facilities and areas were analyzed, and the most suitable model was proposed.

• Alternative site selection was conducted, identifying three candidate areas for the DCZ. Since no specific legislation existed for data center zones, “Industrial Zones Regulation,” “Organized Industrial Zones Site Selection Regulation,” and Konya Metropolitan Municipality’s 2015 Environmental Plan were used to perform a Threshold Analysis.

• International criteria such as TIA and BICSI standards were also considered in a proximity analysis, whose results were cross-referenced with the Threshold Analysis to identify eight potential areas. Field investigations and institutional consultations narrowed these to three suitable alternative sites.

• Geological drilling and soil studies were carried out in all three candidate areas in compliance with AFAD regulations. Based on the reports, the site with the best soil conditions was selected as the final location.

• For the designated site, detailed concept plans, a business plan, an operations and management model, a strategic communication and promotion plan, as well as incentive schemes and an investment guide were prepared.

• To promote the project, an international article on the DCZ was prepared, and consultations were held with domestic and international stakeholders.

Following these efforts, consultations with relevant public institutions and organizations are ongoing to establish the legal framework for the Data Centers Zone and to improve the investment environment for entrepreneurs planning to invest in the KOP DCZ. The project, carried out in 2015 and 2016, incurred a total expenditure of 1,690,000 TL.