Cyprus's mobile subscribers access full 5G coverage
Cyprus suffered from the effects of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when the tourism sector was essentially closed. During 2022, there have been adverse knock-on effects caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in a dramatic drop in the number of Russian tourists entering the country.The mobile market is served by four mobile network operators, including Cablenet which initially offered services as an MVNO before becoming an MNO in its own right. Cyta has offered mobile services under the Cytamobile-Vodafone brand since 2004 following a partner agreement with Vodafone Group, while Epic was acquired by Monaco Telecom in mid-2018. In mid-2021 Monaco agreed to sell its entire passive infrastructure in Cyprus. The number of mobile subscribers fell in 2020, largely the result of subscribers scaling back on multiple SIM cards as an economic measure.
The broadband market continues to develop steadily, providing the country with one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the region. DSL remains the dominant access platform, accounting for about two-thirds of fixed broadband connections. Cablenet is engaged in investment projects which will see its network pass about 80% of premises. Although fibre infrastructure in Cyprus is minimal, in common with other markets in the region there are efforts underway (supported by the government and regulator) to extend an FttP service to about 200,000 premises. As a result, the number of DSL subscribers is set to fall steadily in coming years as customers are migrated to the fibre platform.
This report introduces the key aspects of Cyprus's telecoms market, outlining the regulatory environment and providing updated operational and financial data on the major operators. The report also reviews the mobile voice and data segments, also covering regulatory and technology developments. In addition, the report assesses the broadband and e-commerce markets.
Key Developments:
- PCCW Global completes the 3,200km Mediterranean section of the PEACE cable project, with connections at Cyprus and Malta;
- Cyta fast tracks fibre rollout plan to the end of 2023, claims full population coverage with 5G, takes a stake in the East Med Corridor fibre cable project linking Europe with Asia;
- Regulator concludes multi-spectrum auction for 5G, issues licenses;
- Monaco Telecom sells passive infrastructure in Cyprus with lease-back arrangement;
- Cyta upgrades transmission capacity on the TE-North Cable System to 500Gb/s;
Table of Contents
- Key statistics
- Regional Europe Market Comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI versus GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
- Telecommunications market
- Regulatory environment
- Historical overview
- Regulatory authority
- Fixed-line developments
- Telecom sector liberalisation
- Privatisation
- Universal Service Obligation
- Interconnect
- Access
- Number Portability (NP)
- Carrier PreSelection (CPS)
- European Electronic Communications Code
- Mobile network developments
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Second GSM licence
- 3G licences awarded in Northern Cyprus
- Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
- 2.6GHz spectrum auction
- Multi-spectrum auction (900, 1800, 2100MHz)
- Multi-spectrum auction (800MHz, 1470MHz, 2600MHz, 3600MHz)
- 5G spectrum auction - 2020
- SIM card registration
- Mobile market
- Market analysis
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile data
- Mobile broadband
- Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G (LTE)
- 3G
- Major mobile operators
- Cytamobile-Vodafone
- Epic
- Kibris Telekom
- PrimeTel
- Cablenet
- MVNOs
- Mobile content and applications
- Fixed-line broadband market
- Introduction and statistical overview
- Market analysis
- Broadband statistics
- Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
- Other fixed broadband services
- Fixed wireless (Wi-Fi and WiMAX)
- Digital economy
- E-government
- E-commerce
- Fixed network operators
- Cyta
- Epic
- PrimeTel
- Telecommunications infrastructure
- National telecom network
- International infrastructure
- Submarine cable networks
- Satellite networks
- Appendix - Historic data
- Glossary of abbreviations
- Related reports
List of Tables
List of Charts
List of Exhibits
Companies Mentioned
- Cyta
- PrimeTel
- Multichoice
- Cablenet
- Cytamobile-Vodafone
- Epic (MTN Cyprus)
- Kibris Telecom