VADnet hero: Necdet Kabil, Baglan Turkey
Members are the driving force behind the biggest PAN European cooperation of Value Added Distributors in the IoT industry. That’s why we call them ‘VADnet Heroes’.
This month, we are shining a spotlight on a true VADnet veteran, a man who’s seen the tech world evolve from floppy disk to 5G: Necdet Kabil, founder and CEO from Baglan, Turkey.
From Construction to Connectivity: The Necdet Story
Necdet’s journey into the tech world began back in 1985, a time when computers were just starting to make their grand entrance. Working for a construction company, he witnessed the rise of IBM and Acer, and the growing need for connectivity. Like a true visionary, he saw the writing on the digital wall and decided, “Why not build my own business?” And thus, Baglan was born, which in English means, “Get Connected”.
Starting as a distributor of networking hardware, Baglan quickly evolved. Remember those networking printers? Necdet was there. And those Axis cameras that lasted a whopping 23 years? Yep, IP camera projects were his bread and butter. Then came 2000, and with it, Sierra Wireless distributionship, seeing 2G EDGE PCMIA cards blossom into the 3G, 4G, and now 5G routers we know today. Talk about riding the wave!
Today, Baglan is all about wireless networking, 4G/5G, GSM repeaters, and antennas, with private 5G on the horizon. He humorously likens it to a car and its tires: the router is the car, and the antenna is the tire – they simply must follow! And that’s what Baglan did, representing now world famous brands for the wireless IoT industry.
But they’re not just distributors; they’re “Value Add”. What does that mean? It means truly listening to customers, offering design services for complex projects, and being there when things go sideways. Plus, a good old Proof of Concept makes customers feel warm and fuzzy. With a dedicated team, they’re clearly doing something right!
VADnet: The Wireless Wavelength and a Love for Learning
Necdet joined the VADnet family in 2008, after being invited by Maria from Portugal. He simply “trusted on Maria” and visited his first VADnet meeting in Madrid. And never left again our VADnet community, and boy, has that trust in Maria paid off!
VADnet brought Necdet a wealth of benefits. ‘Turkey,’ he explains, ‘was a bit behind in the wireless game’. But thanks to VADnet, he learned invaluable lessons from upcoming European technologies and bravely ventured into the wireless world himself.
Beyond the tech, Necdet cherishes the camaraderie, the fun, and the shared experiences. Doing business with VADnet partners and exchanging knowledge is clearly a highlight. And his best VADnet meeting ever? “All,” he declares, because everyone puts in their “upper best” to make it enjoyable, from the hotels and discussions to the dining and professional sessions.
Beyond the Business: A Glimpse into Necdet’s World
When he’s not busy connecting the world, Necdet is a man of diverse tastes and passions. He’s been happily married for 34 years to his wife, whom he met 45 years ago. Their daughter now lives in London, working in the financial world – perhaps a future VADnet member in the making?
When it comes to food, Necdet is an adventurous eater, but his heart truly belongs to steamed artichokes with olive oil or asparagus with cheese. His drink of choice? A single malt Islay Lagavulin, specifically the smoked peat variety. For red wine, it’s all about location and the meal – a true connoisseur!
His music taste is a nostalgic trip to the 80s, with Pink Floyd, Genesis, Foreigner, and Phil Collins gracing his playlists. And for recommended reading, Necdet has multiple “bibles”:
Hayat (Life) and Insan Olmak (Being Human) by Engin Geçtan (a psychiatrist and professor), and The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean by David Abulafia. Deep stuff!
Staying active is key for Necdet. He was once a basketball player (now he watches the NBA), walks his dogs every day, and practices Tai Chi for 15 minutes daily. Talk about dedication!
His favorite countries to visit? Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome, Venice, London, Taipei, and Tokyo all get a nod. For Necdet, it’s always business first, then two extra days to soak in the culture, food, and people. And let’s not forget his love for sailing in Turkey.
Leisure time for Necdet revolves around sailing, family, dining, walking, and catching up with friends. His main motto in life? “Grab the moment. Live in the moment”. A philosophy we could all learn from!
And finally, what can wake him up? Necdet tells us a story to characterize his nature -> A real-life earthquake in Istanbul took place in 1999, which shook for over two minutes at 3:30 in the morning. His response? Slowly waking up, relaxing, figuring out what happened, and then “moving to do the right things”. Being relaxed, he says, is simply “nature”.
If he were European President for 24 hours? He’d resign immediately, because “I can not change anything within 24 hours”. A man of refreshing honesty!
Final words
Necdet truly loves the VADnet group, calling it a “living group” where everyone learns from each other. He looks forward to the meetings and the “interesting people”, having only missed one meeting in 17 years. Now that’s commitment!
And at VADnet? Well, Necdet is a calm, relaxed and a wise man. In combination with his emphatic character, this all is very much appreciated within the VADnet community and should also be a ‘learning lesson’ for todays world leaders’.
