Turkish mobile network operator Turkcell has announced the launch of a new mobile payment system for transportation with the integration of its Turkcell Wallet and the Urfakart public transportation card.

"We, as Turkcell, are leading the way in terms of mobile communication technologies that are not only reshaping the world but also changing the way of doing business in sectors such as transportation, finance, education and health," said Turkcell general manager Sureyya Ciliv.

Introduced in October 2012, the Turkcell Wallet is currently on 1.2 million phones. 

Ciliv said the Turkcell Wallet public transportation system is a first for Turkey. The hope is that mobile payments acceptance on the 207 public transportation vehicles in the southeast Turkish province of Sanliurfa will set an example for the rest of the country, he said.

Turkcell customers can download the Turkcell Wallet application for iOS or Android devices and simply add their Urfakart. The user can top up an Urfakart using a debit or credit card or by deducting the amount from a prepaid account balance.

Read more about mobile wallets.