ERZURUM - People carry cellular phones --which is considered as a status symbol -- although there is no base station in 35 villages in Ovacik region (of Ilica town) in eastern city of Erzurum.
''We do not have the chance to speak on our mobile phones because there is no base station in the region enabling us to make use of the phones . However, most of the villagers possess cellular phones'' explained to A.A Burhanettin Guzelbaba, Headman of Toprakkale village.
''There are 90 houses in our village and at least 100 people carry mobile phones. We can use our phones only when we go to (metropolis) Erzurum,'' he said. Guzelbaba noted that they talked to the executives of GSM companies, but did not get a satisfactory response.
Mehmet Zeki Karatas, Head of Catak --another village in the region-- said, ''our village is 80 kilometers far from Erzurum. We can go to Erzurum once every two months. Thus, sometimes we do not use our cellular phones for two months.''