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Communications - Phoning home/mobiles etc

Information on getting connected to, and using, land-lines and mobile (cellular) telephones and the Internet in Cyprus.

Making Phone Calls

In order to make a phone call to Cyprus from abroad, dial 00 357 and then the eight-digit phone number.

If you wish to make a phone call abroad while in Cyprus, dial 00, followed by the country code and the telephone number. International calls can be made from public telephones available at various central locations in all cities and villages, as well as at international airports, harbours and elsewhere. There are three types of public telephones - coin phones, outdoor card phones and indoor card phones. Public payphones can be used for both national and international calls. Dialling instructions as well as rates are displayed in all payphones.

Calling within Cyprus simply requires dialling the eight-digit telephone number.

Internet Connection

Many establishments including phone centres, internet cafes and hotels offer internet connection services of various speeds and types. Depending on the establishment, the service offered is wired or wireless and is usually charged by the hour.

Cytanet is the largest Internet connectivity provider in Cyprus. PrimeTel and Cablenet also provide connectivity.

Cytanet and PrimeTel 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 the ADSL provider 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. Cablenet subscribers do not connect via a phone line, rather using a coaxial cable to do so. The cable is installed on subscription. Cablenet's service area is much smaller than that of Cytanet or PrimeTel.

Information on broadband options and internet service providers (ISPs) is available from CyprusBroadband.net.

Cytanet

To order a Cytanet Internet connection, subscribers must have a Cyta fixed phone line. Full range of Internet services and webmail is available.

Cytanet for All is a subscription-free dial-up Internet connection service for occasional users.

Tel: 8000 8080 from a Cyprus telephone (Monday to Friday 08:00-24:00, weekends 10:00-24:00).

OTEnet

OTEnet provides telephones and ADSL Internet to many locations in Cyprus; their website has a map showing locations served by the network. Product packages are available for the home user, small business and larger corporations.

Landline Telephone Services

Fixed-line telephony in Cyprus is provided by Cyta, a government-owned company and PrimeTel an independently owned company; they both provide packages for home and business usage.

Cyta services: Cyta provides services for personal, business and small business use. These include the supply of land-lines, mobile phones (on monthly payment contracts and pay as you go), data transmission, telegraph transmission, maritime, TV transmission and reception, private leased circuits, audio text, video conferencing, ISDN, DSL, Internet and ATM/Frame Relay.

Cyta

At: Telecommunications Street, Strovolos, PO Box 24929, 1396 Nicosia.

Tel: 22 701 000

Tel: 132 (from Cyprus only)

Fax: 22 494 940

Cyta service can be initiated by signing up over the phone, online, or at a CytaShop. It also has customer service offices, called CytaShops, located throughout Cyprus.

PrimeTel services: PrimeTel provides land-line telephone, Internet (ADSL2 and broadband), Free-to-Air TV, digital TV, video on demand and pre-paid talk plans. The company offers residential packages as well as services for businesses.

PrimeTel PLC

At: The Maritime Center, 141 Omonia Avenue, PO Box 51490, 3506 Limassol.

Tel: 22 027 300 or 25 867 289 (residential services).

Tel: 133 (from Cyprus only).

Fax: 22 102 211.

PrimeTel also has customer service offices throughout Cyprus.

Getting a land line connected

Contact Cyta or PrimeTel directly in order to have a land line activated or installed.

Directory Inquiries

Cyta Directory Assistance.

Tel: 11892.

PrimeTel Directory Assistance (up to three numbers per call)

Tel: 11800 (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

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 with a Cyprus sim card 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 originating country 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 for a small fee, remove the old SIM and install the new SIM card. The new SIM card packaging will include the new Cyprus phone number. Purchase credit (available in 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

Vodaphone has pre-paid services under their SoEasy plan.

Monthly payment plans

Cyta has monthly payment plans which generally offer a better rate for frequent callers. Packages include:

• Light: intended for customers who do not wish to make many calls.
• Classic: intended for customers with average to high use.

A contract is needed to subscribe to monthly plans; there are penalties for early cancellation.

MTN Cyprus

MTN Cyprus provides mobile broadband services for mobile cellular phones, BlackBerrys and other 3G devices.

MTN has a comprehensive website in English:

Sending Letters, Parcels Telegrams

You can send your letters from post offices located throughout the island and at the airports, or using the yellow mailboxes on the street. Stamps may be purchased from all Post Offices, Postal Agencies, as well as from many hotels, news-stands, kiosks, etc. Post offices offer other services, including courier service (data post), money orders, parcel post, etc. Telegrams can be sent through the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA), which has offices in all towns.

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