Communications – Phoning home/mobiles etc
Information on getting connected to, and using, land-lines and mobile (cellular) telephones Cyprus…

Fixed-line telephone services for home and business usage in Cyprus are provided by Cyta, an independent (but government-owned) company, and PrimeTel, MTN and Cablenet.

To install a landline with any of the service providers incurs a fee of €120 which can be paid in monthly instalments over a 12-24 month basis. Other registration fees with telephone providers usually apply.

Cyta, PrimeTel and MTN also provide mobile and internet services. Each company offers a variety of tariff options and bundled service deals which can include internet, telephone, mobile and digital TV services combined or separately.

New residents can sign up with Cyta online, over the phone, or in person at any one of the Cytashops around Cyprus.

• Cyta
  Adr: Telecommunications Street, Strovolos, PO Box 24929, 1396 Nicosia
  Tel: 22 701 000 or 132 (from Cyprus only)
  Fax: 22 494 940
  e-mail

PrimeTel services: PrimeTel provides land-line telephone, Internet (ADSL2 and broadband), Free-to-Air TV, digital TV, video on demand, pay-per-view, and pre-paid talk plans and monthly contracts. The company offers residential packages as well as services for businesses. PrimeTel do not charge monthly line rental.

• PrimeTel PLC
  Adr: The Maritime Center, 141 Omonia Avenue, PO Box 51490, 3506 Limassol
  Tel: 22 027 300 or 25 867 289 (residential services) or 133 (from Cyprus only)
  Fax: 22 102 211
  e-mail

PrimeTel Home

PrimeTel also has customer service centres throughout Cyprus.

MTN offer mobile phones (on monthly payment contracts and pay as you go), landline telephony and broadband for both private and business clients. MTN stores are located all over Cyprus and they provide an online e-store selling mobile and computer devices. Tel: 800 100 01 or 136

Directory Enquiries

• Cyta Directory Assistance
  Tel: 11892
• Cyta Yellow Pages
• PrimeTel Directory Assistance (up to three numbers per call)
  Tel: 11800 (charges apply)
• MTN Directory Assistance (up to three numbers per call) Tel: 11811 (charges apply)

Public Telephones

Cyta public phones are in all towns, villages, ports and airports. There are three types of public telephones, coinphones, outdoor cardphones and indoor cardphones. All public phones can be used for local and international calls.

Cardphones accept payment by Telecards, which are available in various denominations. They can be purchased at banks, post offices, souvenir shops, kiosks and CytaShops.

Mobile/Cellular Telephone Services

Cyprus has a modern mobile 3G phone network. Mobile cellular telephones are available from major retailers and phone shops. If coming to Cyprus with a phone from another country, it may be possible to use it in Cyprus if the frequency band is the same (GSM 900/1800; UMTS 2100).

The most economical way to make and receive calls will likely be to purchase a SIM card in Cyprus. All incoming calls are free and local calls are charged at a local rate.

In order to do use a foreign phone in Cyprus, the phone must be “unlocked”, meaning it is not tied to a particular provider’s network. If the phone is locked, it may be possible to unlock the phone at phone stores in the country of origin or in Cyprus.
Once a phone is unlocked, it may be used on any network (provided the phone uses the same technology provided in Cyprus).

Pay-As-You-Go mobile phone usage

Pay-As-You-Go usage means no contract is necessary; users buy pre-paid credits for usage. In order to use the phone on a Pay-As-You-Go basis, make sure the phone is unlocked, purchase a SIM card (a very small replaceable microchip) for a small fee, remove the old SIM card (often underneath the phone battery) and install the new SIM card. The new SIM card packaging will include the new Cyprus phone number. Purchase credit (available in periptero kiosks, tobacconists, post offices and petrol stations) and redeem it with the salesperson (if purchased in a phone store) or via phone call or text message.

There are no roaming agreements with the northern part of Cyprus; Cyprus mobile phones do not work there, however a cellular handset from another country works on both sides of the island.

Cytamobile, Primetel and MTN all offer pay as you go plans.

Monthly payment plans

All mobile phone operators in Cyprus offer Cyta has monthly payment plans which generally offer a better rate for frequent callers.
Various plans which include airtime minutes, SMS and mobile internet are available for a monthly fee. Unlimited talk plans and discounts or free mobile devices are also offered by some networks. Cyta, MTN and PrimeTel will often promote special offers in the local press and on their websites.

A 12-18 month contract is needed to subscribe to most monthly plans; there are penalties for early cancellation.

Paying a telephone, digital television or internet bill

Mobile contracts, fixed telephone, digital television and internet bills are issued monthly. They can be sent by post or email. Bills in English can be requested when signing up for a service. Arrangement for direct debit payments can be made when signing a contact with a particular network or service.

Payments must be paid in full by cash or bank card in one of the following ways:

• At any customer service centres of the network provider.
• Online via the website of the network provider
• By Direct Debit
• At Banks or Cooperative Banking Institutions
• Online via the JCC smart payment portal

Cyprus area dialling codes

Area Codes

Cyprus Country Code (insert before dialling the local number with area code)	+357
Nicosia	22
Famagusta	23
Larnaca	24
Limassol, Platres	25
Paphos, Polis	26

.

Getting Online in Cyprus
Information on getting connected to, and using, the Internet in Cyprus…

In order to get online in Cyprus a landline telephone line is required. Once a landline has been set up there are a number of internet providers to choose from. All providers offer packages and deals which include a combination of internet, telephone and television services. Registration fees usually apply. Providers will often advertise free installation offers and deals in the local press or via their websites.

Broadband

Cytanet, PrimeTel and MTN are the two major broadband/ADSL Internet connectivity providers in Cyprus. In order to obtain ADSL service, a phone line is necessary. A monthly connection fee is payable to some the ADSL providers as well as the Internet service provider and a fee for digital television will also be payable if this option is chosen. Digital television is available from all Internet providers. Wireless modems are provided and installed by the service provider.

Cable Internet

Cablenet subscribers do not connect via a phone line, rather using a coaxial cable to do so. The cable is installed on subscription, making telephone, Internet and TV available in one package. Cablenet’s service area is much smaller than that of Cytanet or PrimeTel.

Mobile Internet

Mobile internet in Cyprus is generally only available in cities and suburban areas. Rural areas have limited 3G and 3.5G coverage so mobile data often drop back to GPRS, an inferior and much slower network.
There are two main mobile internet providers in Cyprus, with other providers piggy-backing on these suppliers’ networks:

• Cyta
• MTN (also offers Pay-As-You-Go mobile data for mobiles, tablets, laptops or multi-use SIM cards.

Related Information

Information from CyprusBroadband.net regarding broadband services and promotions in Cyprus

 

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