Cyprus-Forum.com

[andytandreou]

Manni I had a friend of mine with the same problems and I was very upset to hear that people where having issues with their connections all over the place in the begining. However you have to understand that Areeba had only limited time to set up it's network as opposed to Cyta who had decades to set it up.

In the begining Areeba restricted its service to Cities (LCA, NIC, LIM) and people who traveled outside these areas witnessed bad reception. However, Areeba has signed an agreement with Cyta and is sub-letting connections from Cyta to cover the whole area of Cyprus. Today, the notion of Areeba having bad reception is simply untrue. I'm afraid you where a VERY EARLY ADOPTER and this left you with a negative impression of Areeba. Don't forget that their number one goal is to be better than Cyta (hence Ulimited GPRS and free 3G calling until september).

[Olga]

Personally, I am satisfied how CyTA works.
I have not used areeba but my friend has. She was satisfied as well.
I remember just once when I had problems with CyTA, when for some period there was no connection.
If the deposit is really just about 100-300 pounds it's ok.
But what about the number?
While switching to a subscribtion phone will they have to change my number?

[cyprusgrump]

Manni I had a friend of mine with the same problems and I was very upset to hear that people where having issues with their connections all over the place in the begining. However you have to understand that Areeba had only limited time to set up it's network as opposed to Cyta who had decades to set it up.

In the begining Areeba restricted its service to Cities (LCA, NIC, LIM) and people who traveled outside these areas witnessed bad reception. However, Areeba has signed an agreement with Cyta and is sub-letting connections from Cyta to cover the whole area of Cyprus. Today, the notion of Areeba having bad reception is simply untrue. I'm afraid you where a VERY EARLY ADOPTER and this left you with a negative impression of Areeba. Don't forget that their number one goal is to be better than Cyta (hence Ulimited GPRS and free 3G calling until september).

It would be interesting to know if Manni was made aware of the service limitations when he signed-up and was offered a discount or cheaper price because of them?

I remember becoming an ‘early adopter’ for Orange in the UK – I was assured that the coverage was equivalent of the other networks and that global roaming agreements were in place and would be activated ‘very soon’. Neither promise turned out to be true and I became a long-term and loyal customer of Vodafone instead.

[annecollings]

Hmmm... this is all very interesting. I have a neat little story to tell regarding this matter: For business reasons I decided to change from So Easy to Cyta fixed mobile (billed at end of each month) and so that I could advertise my business in the Cyta Yellow Pages (which you cannot do with a So Easy - yet!). It costs CYP10.00 and you keep your same number. You have to let your So Easy money run down because you cannot transfer it.

I first went to Larnaca Cyta shop to enquire about doing this. I stumped them completely as I produced a Yellow Slip instead of the old Pink one. You now get an EU Yellow Slip. I am English and have lived here for 7 years so therefore am entitled to live and work here as a permanent resident. After much debate (in a friendly kinda way), a few phone calls and discussions with the supervisor, I was informed that I could change my phone over but would have to let the So Easy money run down. So, off I went to do so.

Once I had run down the money I then decided as I was in Limassol that day I would go into a Limassol Cyta shop. Here a very rude lady informed me and the whole shop very loudly, that unless I was a Cypriot Citizen or owned my own property in Cyprus (regardless that I have a business here) I could not change my phone over and would have to pay CYP 1000 deposit...!!!!!!

So, guess what I did. I went back to Larnaca shop where they very politely and efficiently changed my phone over for me. There ends the saga!

[cyprusgrump]

Oh dear!

I’ve always found the Cyta service people in Limassol extremely pleasant and helpful in the three years that we’ve been here – we’ve moved twice, added lines, bought Cytanet subscriptions, etc, etc. and all has gone smoothly.

Bizarrely, I have found that calling them to get anything done is a complete waste of time though – you just get told to ring another number then another number ‘til you end up back at the original number and decide to go into the shop and get it sorted in a few moments!

[Svetlana]

I called Cytanet with a problem, last week. The guy said he had to escalate it, so I hung on, then he said he had to escalate it further. so I hung on, then he said 'there are no technicians on duty, please call tomorrow' LOLOLOL! Can you believe a word they say?

Lana

[cyprusgrump]

I called Cytanet with a problem, last week. The guy said he had to escalate it, so I hung on, then he said he had to escalate it further. so I hung on, then he said 'there are no technicians on duty, please call tomorrow' LOLOLOL! Can you believe a word they say?

Lana

No.

[Olga]

That’s very interesting what you wrote, annecollings!
The way they treated you in the Limassol CyTA shop really upset me.
If you are not a Cypriot citizen it does not mean you should be treated worse or in a rude way.
Anyway, I am glad that in the end you got what you wanted!
As for me, I guess, I will have to pay deposit anyway since I have been staying in Cyprus for just some months. Or maybe should I go to Larnaca CyTA shop?