Cytamobile -Vodafone : The government-owned telecommunications company signed a Partner Network Agreement with Vodafone in 2004 and are now the leading mobile provider in Cyprus. The company recently signed a roaming contract with nearly 250 service providers in over one hundred countries. However, be aware that roaming fees can be very high. If you stay for a while in Cyprus, it will definitely pay to get a Cyprus SIM card.
MTN : MTN was launched in 2004 under the name of Areeba and changed names in 2007 after winning the bid for the second mobile license on the island.
Both MTN and Cytamobile-Vodafone operate with GSM technology. This means that most foreign mobiles should pick up a signal and be able to connect to one of the two networks. However, be aware that roaming fees can be very high. If you stay for a while in Cyprus, it will definitely pay to get a Cyprus SIM card.
Some foreign handsets may need to be unlocked in order to be used with a Cyprus SIM card. This can easily be done once there.
How much will I pay?
Both Cytamobile-Vodafone and MTN offer a range of PayAsYouGo and PayMonthly plans. Since they charge similar prices for calls and SMS, you might want to use the same provider as your friends and family as calls to the same network are a lot cheaper.
Prepaid SIM Card
Avoid committing to a contract if you plan to stay for less than a year in Cyprus. Instead, you can opt for a prepaid SIM card which offers a “PayAsYouGo”-Service.
A prepaid SIM card cost around 10-15 Euros and already includes a certain amount of airtime and text messages. You can add credit to your balance by buying vouchers on-line or at selected kiosks throughout the island. The amount of credit you put on your phone determines the amount of free text messages you will receive. For more information check out the prepaid information of MTN and Cytamobile-Vodafone on their websites.
Contracts
Contracts are well suited to those who heavily depend on their mobile. Expats should have no problem setting up a contract.
MTN PayMonthly phones require a connection charge for all PayMonthly plans. They offer different types of plans designed to suit a variety of people. Bills can be settled by going to any MTN service centre, Germanos shops, and any of the following banks: Bank of Cyprus, Laiki Bank, Alpha Bank, Hellenic Bank, National Bank of Greece, Universal Bank, or Cooperative Bank. Bills can also be paid on-line.
Cytamobile-Vodafone pay monthly plans also require a connection fee of €19.65. They offer two different sorts of plan which start around €2 per month. After the completion of a twelve month contract these monthly payments decrease even further. Please refer to their website for more information on call charges.
Note that it is illegal to use your handset whilst driving in Cyprus though it is commonly seen.