NEW TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY IN CYPRUS
A PROMINENT EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN INTELLIGENCE HUB
With the City of Limassol remaining as the island’s largest tech sector, Cyprus as a whole is rapidly transforming into a prominent Eastern Mediterranean technology hub. In light of this, the government and private sectors are both prioritising generative artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, fintech and blockchain, and smart city space technologies, in an effort to drive the nation’s economy and digital transformation.
A SERIES OF FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS
Key technological focus across the island is also driven by favourable regulatory frameworks, innovation hubs, artificial intelligence infrastructures that include artificial intelligence and supercomputing, and the implementation of European-wide standards. A massive European Union funding drive for this sector has also allowed for the opening of new capital access for Cypriot scale-ups and tech companies.
THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FACTORY
The launch of the artificial intelligence factory has facilitated the island’s connection to European supercomputing networks. This has granted access for local startups, as well as other small enterprises, boosting next-generation GPUs and computing power across the island.
THE EARTHVIEW CYPRUS INITIATIVE
Building on its associate membership of the European Space Agency, Cyprus is also rolling out the EarthView Cyprus Initiative. This will help to position the island at the centre of satellite data, natural disaster management, and climate resilience.
BANKING INTEGRATION
Cyprus has also successfully integrated with the European Central Bank. In light of this, Cyprus now supports digital euro transactions, which puts the island at the cutting edge of central bank digital currencies.
THE SILICON VALLEY ACCELERATOR
The Silicon Valley accelerator has launched a prominent 3-month acceleration program in Limassol to connect local, high-growth startups with international investors and corporate partners.
THE BRAIN GAIN INITIATIVE
Offering competitive intellectual property regimes, digital nomad visas, and startup visas that are geared to attract global founders, the Brain Gain initiative actively targets Cypriot tech professionals abroad.
MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
The rapid upgrade of the island’s digital infrastructure has also seen the rise of its mobile telephone sector. This has had a huge impact on the island’s digital footprint, making the use of traditional landline telephone connections far less common. With the island now boasting fibre and high-capacity mobile networks, that includes a reliable 5G network, more people across the island are now relying on their mobile phones for data, and this is constantly shaping the country’s internet future. In light of this, the overall demand for mobile internet is rising rapidly, and mobile subscriptions are steadily increasing.
FAST BROADBAND
With fast broadband access steadily increasing across the island, internet use is at an all-time high across the island. Most internet connections now offer a range of fibre-optic connections that offer a minimum speed of at least 100Mbps. As a result, businesses, as well as most households, are constantly upgrading to faster connections and older, much slower internet technologies, like xDSL, are being phased out. Ultra-fast fibre-optic connections exceeding 1Gbps are also becoming more common, and these are mainly being used by large public and business areas, such as hotels and industrial sites.
A MODERN BROADCASTING TECHNOLOGY
The move to introduce a new digital television service is a step towards positioning the island at the forefront of modern broadcasting technology. The new network will operate using the DVB-T2 broadcasting standard, a technology that enhances transmission speeds and capacity. This will enable the network to bring HD and 4K TV broadcasting to Cypriot households, upgrading the television experience in the country.
EXPLORING CONTENT PRODUCTION
This is not the first time Hellas Sat has had a presence in Cypriot broadcasting. It previously launched ‘O Logos,’ TV channel in 1980, which was the first privately owned television channel to broadcast in Cyprus. In addition to its broadcasting expansion, Hellas Sat is also exploring content production for both terrestrial and satellite transmission. The company’s technical team is actively planning new initiatives, with further announcements expected soon.
SIGNIFICANT VIEWING QUALITY
Cyprus Television will soon benefit from a new digital television service. Hellas Sat has recently obtained a licence to establish and operate a digital terrestrial television network in Cyprus. The authorisation to broadcast will be valid from December 1st, 2025, to November 9th, 2040. This marks a major step forward for the country’s broadcasting landscape. The main aim of the new service will be to ensure an enhanced viewing experience for Cypriot television audiences. This upgrade will also deliver high-definition and ultra-high-definition television programming. This will significantly improve viewing quality for households across the island.
EIGHT NEW TRANSMISSION CHANNELS
This development represents a significant milestone for Cyprus’s digital television infrastructure. Cyprus will benefit from up to eight new transmission channels. These new channels will be transmitted across the island using four new single-frequency networks, as dictated by the new licence. Hellas Sat will broadcast the four new single-frequency networks using two main transmission channels. One of the main transmission channels will serve the Troodos region, while the other will cover the greater Famagusta area.
