CYTA’s mobile division yesterday announced its strategic merger with the world’s leading mobile telephone company Vodafone, saying it would adopt the new name Cytamobile.
The chairman of CyTA’s Administrative Council, Stavros Kremos, said CyTA had been working secretly on the project for five months.
“Cyprus is on the doorstep of a new era and with dramatic changes in technology, telecommunications must improve. We welcome the opening of the free market and feel that competition will give us the opportunity to prove our success was not due to our monopoly but to our superb customer services,” said Kremos.
He said CyTA’s co-operation with Vodafone would offer customers an improved service, adding this was CyTA’s largest strategic co-operation ever.
CyTA General Manager Nicos Timotheou said the company wanted to offer its 560,000 customers the most contemporary and advanced services possible.
“The identity of CyTA must be a modern one. As of today our Cyta GSM network is called Cytamobile in co-operation with the Vodafone Partners Network,” said Timotheou.
He said the co-operation would benefit both CyTA and its users. “Cypriots traveling to another country where Vodafone connection is established will immediately be able to roam on the Vodafone network and enjoy all the benefits offered by the company,” said Timotheou.
The same applies to Vodafone subscribers who arrive in Cyprus. They will be connected to Cytamobile and can enjoy the use of their mobile phone as they could at home.
Dr Thomas Nowak, marketing director of the Vodafone Partner Networks Group, believes the co-operation is in the best interest of subscribers.
“Vodafone is the largest mobile community in the world with 130 million subscribers. We offer easy to use services and our values are passion for customers, people and the world,” said Nowak.
Vodafone communicates with 29 mobile operators around the world and has 13 partner networks, now including CyTA.
Nowak said Vodafone last year made a profit of £30 billion sterling and had the lowest debt ratio.
“Through this co-operation with CyTA we can offer customers a unique and seamless service,” said Nowak. “Vodafone has proved that it can turn its footprint into tangible services.”
Timotheou was hesitant to say whether rates would come down as a result of the new partnership, but he did say calls would be cheaper for Cytamobile users when abroad. “Cytamobile users will be guaranteed the best quality on mobile telephony,” said Timotheou.
