Cyprus has built a surprisingly strong telecom market for its size, with fiber optic networks expanding rapidly across the island. The Fiber network enables the transmission of data at very fast speeds, with innovative technology providing Internet access at speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
In the last five years, operators expanded LTE-Advanced and rolled out 5G to 100 percent of the population, while the island invested in trans-Mediterranean submarine cable projects to strengthen its international connections. This digital infrastructure supports both residents and the growing number of remote workers choosing Cyprus as their base.
Major Internet Service Providers
Cyta, the state-owned telecommunications company, manages most telecommunications and internet connections on the island and is the country’s oldest and largest network operator. It has been providing services for over 70 years and expanded to include fixed PSTN, ISDN, DSL, and FTTH, as well as Cytanet Broadband and mobile communications under the Cytamobile-Vodafone brand. Cyta has the widest 4G and 5G coverage, reaching even remote areas and some points at the open sea.
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Following recent liberalization of the telecommunications sector, a few private telecommunications companies have emerged. Cablenet is a local telecommunications company that offers a range of internet services, including fiber optic and cable connections, with a well-developed network in Cyprus and competitive pricing. To contact Cablenet, call 130.
PrimeTel is the third ISP on the island with a market share of 10.7 percent and operates not only in Cyprus but also in Germany, Greece, and the UK. The company invests in fiber optic and international IP transit, in particular between Europe and the Middle East. To contact PrimeTel, call 133.
Multiple smaller providers like FirstNet, G-NET Fiber, and SKY WISP specialize in fiber optic connections, offering speeds up to 1 Gbps or even 10 Gbps in some cases. These providers focus on delivering high-quality internet with reliable connections and competitive pricing.
Mobile Networks and Coverage
The major Cyprus mobile networks are Cyta-Vodafone, Epic, PrimeTel, and Cablenet. Cyta and Epic lead in 5G coverage and speed, PrimeTel focuses on lower pricing, and Cablenet, which started as an MVNO, leases the infrastructure of other operators and sells budget plans.
Epic is part of Monaco Telecom and has been repeatedly awarded by Ookla as the fastest mobile network in Cyprus. Its tariffs are cheaper than Cyta’s, with the “Holiday Internet Pack” popular among visitors costing around 20 euros for unlimited data over 15 days. Regular postpaid options include simple pay-per-use at 3.99 euros per month and unlimited 5G data plans starting at 19.99 euros.
Cyprus also has a small but growing MVNO market where operators lease capacity from the major networks and resell it under their own brand. Prices are often lower, but speeds can drop at busy times since the host operator prioritizes its own customers.
Future Infrastructure Development
The Quantum Cable is a planned 7,700 kilometer ultra high speed optical fiber submarine communications cable system connecting Cyprus with Greece, Israel, Italy, France, and Spain. It is expected to have 160 terabits per second capacity, equivalent to streaming 80 million HD video conference calls at the same time. The Quantum Cable will be laid at same time with the 2,000 MW EuroAsia Interconnector and will upgrade Cyprus to telecom hub status and support data centers on Cyprus.
Fiber optic cables are durable and can work for up to 50 years. Data is transmitted as light signals through small, flexible strands of glass at speeds of up to 1 Gbps or higher. Such speeds are ideal for virtually any online activity, including sending and receiving large files immediately, simultaneous connection of multiple devices, and online gaming with no buffering.
The Power of Digital Connection
In today’s digital era, everything is changing about the way we learn, work, communicate and live. The Fiber network allows people to exploit the technologies of the future with new generation networks, thereby raising their standard of living and improving their business activities. A fast and reliable internet connection using optical fibers greatly improves the whole experience in terms of quality and productivity.
Internet users number 694,223 users, representing 61.0 percent of the population. Fixed broadband subscriptions total 218,783, representing 19.2 percent of population. Wireless broadband subscriptions reach 384,270, representing 33.8 percent of the population. These numbers demonstrate Cyprus’s strong digital connectivity relative to its small population.
There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet, with the exception that gambling sites not licensed by the Republic of Cyprus are blocked. The law provides for freedom of speech and press and the government generally respects these rights in practice. The law prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, and the government generally respects these prohibitions in practice.
