Cyprus Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: April 2024

Report Pages: 139

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

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;
Report update includes the regulator's market data to December 2021, operators' data updates to Q4 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Cyta, PrimeTel, Multichoice, Cablenet, Cytamobile-Vodafone, Epic (MTN Cyprus), Kibris Telecom

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

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Cyprus – 2022 (e)
Table 2 – Telecom revenue by service (€ million) – 2012 – 2018
Table 3 – Change in the number of LLU and WLR lines – 2012 – 2021
Table 4 – Fixed number portings – 2012 – 2018
Table 5 – Mobile number portings – 2012 – 2018
Table 6 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2012 – 2027
Table 7 – Change in the mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 8 – Prepaid and contract subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 9 – Ratio of prepaid to contract subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 10 – Development of SMS traffic – 2012 – 2020
Table 11 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2027
Table 12 – Mobile broadband market share by operator (no specific data plan) – 2012 – 2020
Table 13 – Mobile broadband market share by operator (data-only plans) – 2017 – 2021
Table 14 – Growth in the number of Epic’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 15 – Development of Epic’s revenue (ZAR million) – 2012 – 2018
Table 16 – Growth in the number of Cablenet’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2021
Table 17 – Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2012 – 2027
Table 18 – Fixed broadband market share by data speed – 2012 – 2021
Table 19 – Broadband subscriber market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 20 – Cablenet financial data (€ million) – 2016 – 2021
Table 21 – Growth in the number of Cablenet’s broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 22 – DSL broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 23 – Fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 24 – Development of Cyta’s financial data (€ million) – 2012 – 2020
Table 25 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 26 – Decline in the number of PSTN lines – 2012 – 2021
Table 27 – International bandwidth – 2012 – 2020
Table 28 – Historic - Fixed-line domestic traffic market share – 2009 – 2014
Table 29 – Historic - PrimeTel revenue by sector (€ million) – 2013 – 2016
Table 30 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate – 1999 – 2015
Table 31 – Historic - Broadband retail market share by operator – 2009 – 2015
Table 32 – Historic - Cyta financial data (€ million) – 2005 – 2011
Table 33 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1995 – 2011
Table 34 – Historic - Mobile number portings – 2008 – 2011
Table 35 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2000 – 2011
Table 36 – Historic - International bandwidth – 2000 – 2011
Table 37 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2003 – 2011
Table 38 – Historic - Cablenet broadband subscribers – 2006 – 2011
Table 39 – Historic - Mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2005 – 2011
Table 40 – Historic - DSL broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2011
Table 41 – Historic - Ratio of prepaid to contract subscribers – 2005 – 2011
Table 42 – Historic - Total SMS messages sent – 2006 – 2011
Table 43 – Historic - Telecom revenue by service (€ million) – 2004 – 2011
Table 44 – Historic - Development of PrimeTel’s financial data (€ million) – 2008 – 2017
Table 45 – Historic - Broadband subscriber market share by operator – 2008 – 2011
Table 46 – Historic – Growth in the number of Epic’s mobile subscribers – 2007 – 2011
Table 47 – Historic - Fixed number portings – 2008 – 2011
Table 48 – Historic - Fixed broadband market share by data speed – 2009 – 2011
Table 49 – Historic - Fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2009 – 2011

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Europe - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Europe – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Scandinavia/Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Change in the number of LLU and WLR lines – 2012 – 2021
Chart 11 – Fixed number portings – 2012 – 2018
Chart 12 – Mobile number portings – 2012 – 2018
Chart 13 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 14 – Change in the mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 15 – Prepaid and contract subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 16 – Ratio of prepaid to contract subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 17 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2027
Chart 18 – Mobile broadband market share by operator (no specific data plan) – 2012 – 2020
Chart 19 – Mobile broadband market share by operator (data-only plans) – 2017 – 2021
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of Epic’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 21 – Development of Epic’s revenue – 2012 – 2018
Chart 22 – Growth in the number of Cablenet’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2021
Chart 23 – Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2012 – 2027
Chart 24 – Fixed broadband market share by data speed – 2012 – 2021
Chart 25 – Broadband market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 26 – Cablenet financial data – 2016 – 2021
Chart 27 – Growth in the number of Cablenet’s broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 28 – DSL broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 29 – Fixed-line subscriber market share – 2012 – 2021
Chart 30 – Development of Cyta’s financial data – 2012 – 2020
Chart 31 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Europe
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Europe – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Europe – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Europe – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Access and the local loop

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Cyprus Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Cyprus’s mobile subscribers access full 5G coverage

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Europe Market Comparison

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views