As part of this cooperation, the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications (LMoT) will acquire multiple capacity connectivity to France and Egypt, thus enhancing the robustness of Lebanon’s international access through physical diversity and significant increase in bandwidth.

The two sides have also signed an MoU for the construction of the EUROPA system, a new high-capacity undersea cable between Cyprus and Lebanon, which is expected to be ready for service by 2015 or earlier. The EUROPA system will be in a position to enhance and gradually replace the existing CADMOS cable system, also connecting Lebanon and Cyprus, thus providing a high-quality alternative route. At the same time, the EUROPA will form a bridge between the IMEWE cable system landing in Lebanon and ALEXANDROS cable subsystem landing in Cyprus. The new resilient cable route will provide connectivity to European destinations and beyond, enhancing connectivity between Europe and the Middle East.

Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta) Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr Stathis Kittis accompanied by Cyta’s CEO Mr Aristos Riris, Cyta’s Senior Director-Network Mr Michalis Achilleos, Cyta’s Director-Wholesale Market Mr Yiannis Koulias, Cyta’s Manager-International Network Mr Iordanis Pallikaras and other Cyta high Officials, have attended the Press Conference at LMoT in Beirut for the signing ceremony. The ceremony was under the patronage of Ηis Excellency the Minister of Telecommunications, Nicolas Sehnaoui who attended the event accompanied by the Director General of LMoT Mr Naji Andraos and other LMoT high Officials. The agreements between LMoT and Cyta will strengthen their traditional relations and establish a new basis for their strategic co-operation in jointly offering a protected high capacity route in the Eastern Mediterranean, thus assuring their role as major regional telecommunications hubs, for years to come.

About Cyta:

Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta) is the primary telecommunications provider in Cyprus. Its product portfolio covers the whole spectrum of electronic communications ranging from fixed and mobile telephony to internet service provision and broadband applications. Cyta, through its strategic business unit Cytaglobal, is particularly active in the area of international submarine fibre optic cables, providing wholesale products and services on a global basis, and has established Cyprus as a regional telecommunications hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. To learn more about Cyta and Cytaglobal please visit www.cytaglobal.com.

For more information, please contact:
Yiannis Koulias
Director National & International Wholesale Market
Cyta
Tel: +357 22701652
Email: yiannis.koulias@cyta.com.cy

Firas Abi-Nassif
Advisor to the Minister
Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications
Tel: +961 1979379
Email: firas.abinassif@vctechnologygroup.com