From July 18 to July 23, 2025, Global Ties San Francisco hosted five Turkish participants of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Cybersecurity in Critical Telecom Infrastructure. Administered by Meridian International Center, this IVLP project connected information communication technology (ICT) experts from telecommunications operators and the national regulatory agency in Türkiye with local multinational technology and digital communications companies.

During these meetings, international visitors explored current approaches to upgrading the design and deployment of critical digital infrastructure, and private industry perspectives on cybersecurity issues and the development of public-private partnership and collaboration.

Cultural Experiences in San Francisco and Silicon Valley

The visitors’ stay in the San Francisco Bay Area began with a series of cultural sightseeing tours. On the Golden Gate Bay Cruise, they enjoyed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island with the Red and White Fleet, which has provided visitors with a narrated history of the City since 1939. Following a brief stop at the historic Fisherman’s Wharf, the group went on an excursion to Muir Woods National Monument to take in the breathtaking sights of the coastal Redwood trees.

Later in the week, a stop by the Google Visitor Experience allowed the group to enjoy locally sourced food, browse goods and products from local entrepreneurs and businesses, and explore interactive art installations on the Mountain View campus.

In furthering Global Ties San Francisco’s efforts to foster mutual understanding through people-to-people exchanges, delegates shared a welcoming meal with local Bay Area residents through Home Hospitality visits to learn more about American life and culture.

Professional Meetings

Astranis Space Technologies Corp.

The delegation’s professional meetings on Monday began in San Francisco with a morning visit to Astranis Space Technologies Corp., a company that develops advanced, radiation-tolerant satellites and partners with governments to support broadband services. Representatives from engineering, diplomacy, technology, and business joined the visit, reflecting the broad range of perspectives involved in Astranis’ work. Astranis is advancing its flagship MicroGEO communication satellites—which feature software-defined radio and resilient hardware—through collaboration with industry, government, and international institutions. The company’s global engagement efforts include tailoring solutions with commercial and government partners to meet their specific communication needs efficiently and cost-effectively.

Cisco Systems

In the afternoon, the delegation continued their explorations of U.S. network and telecommunication infrastructure with Cisco Systems, an American multinational corporation that delivers products, services, and solutions to support its customers’ digital communications needs. During this meeting, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cisco Provider Mobility Masum Mir provided insight into his team’s role in the development of AI, 6G, and cybersecurity technology and investments. As the delegates explored the corporation’s various brownfield and greenfield data center deployment approaches relevant to Türkiye’s telecom infrastructure, the dialogue was further enriched by the exchange occurring in both Turkish and English.

Rakuten Symphony

On Tuesday, the delegation had the opportunity to engage with eight representatives from Rakuten Symphony, a company focused on providing a cloud-native platform for advanced mobile services that are rapid, cost-effective, and secure. The comprehensive discussion was led by various representatives across Rakuten’s end-to-end telecommunication solutions and services, including the Cloud Business Unit, Operations Support System Business Unit, 5G RAN Product Management, and the Service Delivery and Customer Success team. Delegates examined the company’s Open RAN innovations, their zero-footprint site deployment approach, and their vision for AI applications in network infrastructure. Through project and product case studies, the group examined their relevance to the Turkish context, with a focus on scalable and secure approaches to meeting telecommunications and infrastructure needs.

Exchanges Impact

This international exchange program with Türkiye offered space for productive dialogue and expertise sharing between Turkish ICT experts and key private actors of the American multinational technology and telecommunications industry. From discussions on industry visions of cloud-based platforms, Open RAN, and 5/6G technologies to presentations on efficient site management and deployment, their visit highlighted shared concerns that span the development pipeline as well as emerging innovations that prioritize cost and security.

Such conversations illuminated the significance of exchange, collaboration, and partnerships for the continued upgrading of critical digital infrastructure and advancements in the telecommunication industry broadly. Furthermore, the delegation’s cultural experiences provided a dual view of American society and the San Francisco Bay Area—both its historical roots and culture of innovation.

Author: Isabelle Coloma