North Cyprus 'quietly' increased Internet fees by 100%

Communication has now become a luxury in north Cyprus as the TRNC quietly doubled the fee on all telecommunications service and internet without a public announcement.

The TRNC Internet Service Providers Association on Tuesday announced that the Telephone Department increased all fees, including internet, by 100 percent without informing the association and without taking their views into consideration.

The association said knew of the price increases when they appeared in the ‘government’ gazette after an association member had “come across them by chance” while browsing the internet.

“Unfortunately, we are longing for a day when tragicomic events do not occur in this country,” it added.

The price increase will also cover usage during the month of August, meaning that internet service providers north Cyprus are set to see their overheads increase at the end of this month. As a result, consumer prices will also likely rise.

“We apologise to our people in advance for the internet usage price rises which will occur in the coming months due to this situation, which is completely beyond our control and knowledge,” they said.

Mobile phone call charges have more than doubled in a year. Compared to the previous month, mobile call charges saw an increase of up to 32%. The situation is the same for landlines. The cost per minute for landline-to-landline calls is now 0.16 kuruş, and for calls from landlines to mobile phones, it’s 0.32 kuruş. Calls from landlines to Turkish landlines or mobile phones are also 0.32 kuruş per minute.

It was also noted that VAT will be added to all call charges.

As it is known, all processes required for Internet Service Providers operating in the TRNC to provide these services, such as the need for mass internet and fiber optic installation or use, are carried out and provided only through the TRNC Telecommunications Department.

Each provider operating in the country also determines its dues and collective internet fees within the framework of the rules and prices determined by TRNC Telecom. All costs of a service provider determined by the TRNC Telecommunications Department are open to the public and published on the website Mahkemeler.net and in the official gazette.