Communications in Cyprus

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Contents 1 Telecommunications 2 Broadcasting 3 Internet 4 International codes

[edit] Telecommunications

Cyta, the state-owned telecommunications company manages most Telecommunications and Internet connections on the island. However, following the recent liberalization of the sector, a few private telecommunications companies have emerged.

Telephones - main lines in use: Greek Cypriot area: 418,400 (2004); Turkish Cypriot area: 86,228 (2002)

Companies that offer land-based telecommunication services:

• Cyta
• TelePassport
• OTEnet Telecom
• PrimeTel

Telephones - mobile cellular: Greek Cypriot area: 640,500 (2004); Turkish Cypriot area: 143,178 (2002)

Companies that offer mobile cellural services:

• CytaMobile/Vodafone (a subsidiary of Cyta and Vodafone)
• Areeba Cyprus - now owned by MTN from South Africa

Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas
domestic: open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

[edit] Broadcasting

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) (Greek ΡΙΚ) is the main broadcaster in the Greek Cypriot area, although there are also privately owned radio and TV stations. A TV channel from Greek state broadcaster ERT is also available. The British Forces Broadcasting Service also operates radio and TV stations, although the TV signal is now confined to the Sovereign Base Areas or encrypted for copyright reasons. In the Turkish Cypriot area, Bayrak Radio Televizyon is the local broadcaster, with radio and TV from Turkish state broadcaster TRT also available. The Republic of Cyprus regards Bayrak Radyo Televizyon as an illegal pirate broadcaster.

Subscriber TV: The first subscription channels in Cyprus were LTV and Alpha, offered by Multichoice since the mid-90s. Today, there are 3 major companies competing for the market. Nova Cyprus with approximately 35 themed channels via satellite. MiVision, offering approximately 30 channels via digital cable, and LTV and Alpha. And AthenaSAT, offering approximately 15 channels via satellite. PrimeTel also offers LTV and Alpha along with 30 other stations.

Radio broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994)

Television broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: 4 plus 225 low-power repeaters; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 plus 5 repeaters (September 1995)

Televisions: Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994)

List of public TV stations:

• ΡΙΚ1 (CyBC 1st channel - island-wide coverage)
• ΡΙΚ2 (CyBC 2nd channel - island-wide coverage)
• ANT1 (private - island-wide coverage)
• MEGA Channel (private - island-wide coverage)
• SIGMA TV (private - island-wide coverage)
• FRED TV (private - Nicosia local coverage)
• VOX TV (private - Larnaca local coverage)
• Extra TV (private - Limassol local coverage)
• Paphos TV (private - Paphos local coverage)
• Omega (private - Paphos local coverage)

[edit] Internet

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (2006)

ADSL (up to 1.5 MB/s) is currently only available in the areas controlled by the Republic. Some rural areas still only have dial-up.

List of Internet providers in Cyprus:

• Cytanet
• CableNet
• Logosnet
• Netway
• OTEnet Telecom
• Spidernet
• Netway
• Wavespeed
• PrimeTel
• Valicom
• AvacomNet
• ThunderWorx
• Kibris.Net (Located in the North)

[edit] International codes

Country codes: CY (The de facto state of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus uses the code NC.TR (TRNC)

Country calling code: 357 (Northern Cyprus 90 392, via Turkey)