January 2000

Update: Cyprus

Other than the web sites already identified and classified in our previous reports, www.Cypria.com, the first portal in Cyprus has recently started its operations. The project which started in 1997 is the first of its kind in Cyprus and it is a private initiative. The project started in 1997 and even though it is now fully operational, it undergoes continuous developments and experiences daily additions.

The Cypria.com portal encompasses nearly all Cypriot web pages / sites the creators of which agreed to be included, on a free of charge basis. The information sectors (general and specialized inter-linked search engines) comprise news, and directories (yellow pages, books, music and videos). New sectors are being added continuously. A specific web directory lists 14 categories of Cypriot web-sites : arts & culture ; computers & Internet ; entertainment & leisure ; government & politics ; history & society ; media ; sports ; business ; education ; finance & economy ; health & fitness ; local ; personal home pages ; and travel & tourism.

The portal also provides information either bought from various sources (e.g., BBC, USA today, on-line connection with Hollywood for a continuous update on cinema news and movie reviews and information), or produced in-house.

The project’s income comes principally from advertising. All advertisements use links and they are in-house developed. The portal also provides space (free of charge) for classifieds. In addition to advertising, a minor proportion of the income results from low fees for the provision of specific services (e.g., for the on-line connection with the CSE).

Users of the portal can use free e-mail service, with the possibility of message privacy. By the same token, users of Cypria.com can communicate with its offices and they would be answered individually. A two-way communication can be established which would provide feedback to the users on specific issues.

Recently, the e-commerce in Cyprus has experienced considerable growth, the future potential of the field being quite promising. Currently, 11 e-commerce sites were found to operate in Cyprus : 4 of them deal with general items, while 7 with specialized products (clothing ; drinks ; computer software & hardware ; music ; books ; optometry services).

In addition, a total of 38 sites dealing with sales and service of IT software and hardware, 5 sites belonging to Internet cafes, and 63 sites of companies offering Internet services have been identified ;

The number of web sites of primary and secondary schools has increased from a recorded 15 in September 1999, to 20. It is interesting to observe that 5 of these sites belong to primary schools (3 public and 2 private). On the other hand, there are only 2 public secondary schools which developed a web site. As far as high schools and universities are concerned, there are 3 sites which belong to government education organizations (University of Cyprus, Higher Technical Institute, and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute), all others belonging to private organizations.

Overall, there are 6 web sites developed by an equal number of municipalities (namely, the municipalities of Nicosia, Limassol, Strovolos, Latsia, Paralimni and Ayia Napa). In addition, there are 18 sites which have been developed by semi-government organizations and authorities, such as the Agriculture Research Institute ; the Cyprus Ports Authority ; the Cyprus Tourism Organization ; the Department of Statistics and Research ; the Press and Information Office of Cyprus ; the Water Board of Limassol, etc. The number of web sites of Regional and Local Authorities has increased by 20% from 20 recorded in September 1999 to 24 at present.

As far as Hospital and Clinics are concerned, the only public hospital which has developed a web site is the Larnaca General Hospital. Nevertheless, there are 5 more sites developed by medical centers and institutes : the Dental Implant Doctors in Cyprus ; the Gynecological Ultrasound Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology ; the Karaiskakion Foundation (transplant of bone marrow) ; and the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.

NUMBER AND STRUCTURE OF IDENTIFIED WEB SITES

Notes :

• n.a. = Not available
• PIO = Press and Information Office (State organization)