By the end of the year 2000, a total of 817 web sites had been identified as being operable by the variety of public institutions as indicated in the tables below.

Major differences lie in the areas of high schools (colleges) and universities. A total of 37.7% are currently identified as having an operating web-site, as compared to 23% during the first reporting phase). The actual total number stands at 20, of which 3 are public and 17 are private. The 3 government education organizations operating a web-site are the University of Cyprus, the Higher Technical Institute, and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute), All private colleges and the University of Cyprus have developed at least one web site.

In addition, a total of 24 primary and secondary schools have their own site. Of these, 5 belong to public schools and 19 to private. It is also interesting to observe that 5 of these sites belonged to primary schools (3 public and 2 private). The share of web-sites of the total for this category stands at 5.6% representing almost a 10-fold increase compared to mid-1999.

The above increases partially reflect the rapidly changing communications environment and more specifically, the sharp increase in the incidence of personal computers and of the usage of the Internet. The government’s conscious effort to push information technology into public education has also had some impact, however, the rise has been greater in the private sector.

Additionally, a large difference is observed in the category of hospitals and clinics (a percentage of 0.8 was observed during the first reporting phase against 7.6 % observed currently) . The total number stands at 10 at present, compared to the status at the end of 1999, when only one hospital (the governmental general hospital in Larnaka) had developed its web site.

The Larnaka general hospital is still the only public hospital which has developed a web-site. Nevertheless, there are 7 more sites developed by medical centers and institutes which are either semi-governmental or financially supported by the government : 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 ; the KF Neuclear Diagnostics centre ; the Harmony care ; and the Cyprus Fertility Centre. Additionally, a Clinical Laboratory, Unilab has its own web site, as has a centre for Alternative Chinese Medicine.

In the course of the past two years, the number of sites belonging to national ministries has remained unchanged, currently standing at 11, representing the totality of ministries. Similarly, the share of museums operating a web-site has remained static, though at a much lower share, namely 11%. These museums are either state organizations or are funded by the Church of Cyprus.

Since the second quarter of the year 2000 one site belonging to the library of a private college has also been identified, namely the Intercollege, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The number of web sites developed by municipalities has also remained unchanged at 6 (namely, the municipalities of Nicosia, Limassol, Latsia, Strovolos, Paralimni and Ayia Napa). In addition, 3 sites are operated by town authorities (Limassol Cyprus ; Pafos marathon ; Platres). In the field of local and regional authorities, the latest web-site to be developed is that of Yermasoyia local authority, in addition to Limassol Cyprus ; Pafos marathon ; Platres) raising the total number of the relevant sites to 10. Moreover, a total of 19 sites 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.

In addition to the above web-sites, since the beginning of the Year 2000, Cypria.com, the first portal in Cyprus became fully operable. The project which started in 1997 is the first of its kind in Cyprus and it is a private initiative. 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 several categories of Cypriot web-sites including 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.

Yiassou.com.cy and Kyprosnet.com are two other portals that have also started fully operating in the course of the year 2000.

Notes: n.a. = Not available
Sources: Internet : Cypria.com and Yiassou.com.cy

Notes: n.a. = Not available
Sources: Internet : Cypria.com and Yiassou.com.cy