The Deputy Minister of Innovation and Digital Policy, Nikodimos Damianou, wants every home in Cyprus by 2026 to have access to high-speed fiber optic networks.

He announced this during the presentation of the agreement signed between the Ministry of Research and the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority for the expansion of these networks in underdeveloped areas.

The project, which Cyta has undertaken following a relevant tender, aims to develop ultra-high-speed fiber optic networks in areas where there is no market investment interest. With funding of €35 million from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, it contributes to the expansion of fixed broadband networks throughout Cyprus, including rural and remote areas, ensuring equal access for all citizens to Gigabit connectivity.

It is part of a comprehensive government plan aimed at bridging the digital divide and providing citizens with the necessary tools to actively participate in the digital economy and society and to benefit maximally from the digital transition.

In this direction, the Ministry invests both in upgrading the country's telecommunications infrastructure and in supporting the transition of citizens to ultra-high-speed connections, through subsidizing the monthly cost, as well as in upgrading the digital skills of various population groups, including those in rural areas.

"Our goal is to achieve full coverage of Cyprus in very high-speed connectivity by 2026," said the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, Nikodimos Damianou.

In his greeting, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, Nikodimos Damianou, spoke of "a critically important initiative that is part of a comprehensive governmental planning and aims at covering the whole of Cyprus - including rural and remote areas - with high-speed fiber optic networks, thereby ensuring equal access and the ability for active participation of all citizens in the digital economy." He added, "today we take another significant step towards the transition of Cyprus to a Gigabit society."

"With the completion of this significant and extensive project we announce today, expected by early 2026, we aim for Cyprus to become the first country to have achieved 100% population coverage in all aspects of ultra-high-speed connectivity, mobile and fixed," added the Deputy Minister. He also noted that the Ministry subsidizes new subscriptions and upgrades to high speeds, investing a total of €10 million and covering 82,000 households.

As a Government, said Mr. Damianou, "we have announced an ambitious plan to substantially upgrade the digital infrastructure of the state and the services we activate for the citizen, the professional, and the business." Furthermore, he pointed out that "for this to have greater significance, it must be equally accessible to all."

"As a State, we are determined to make every necessary effort to support, facilitate, and encourage the activities of all telecommunications operators," emphasized the Deputy Minister, noting that "Cyta has always been a particularly reliable and valuable partner in every governmental effort."

Finally, he expressed confidence that "together - in this case too - we will achieve our goals and substantially enhance the digital maturity of our country, for the benefit of every citizen and every business."

On his part, Andreas Neokleous, Chief Executive Officer of Cyta, mentioned that "proceeding with investments that improve the state's economic situation and the whole society is within our duties," adding that the development of rural areas is a major challenge especially for European countries that have a significant problem with urbanization. "By installing fiber optic networks, we can contribute to increasing the permanent population of rural areas," he added, speaking of a "long-term investment."