Formerly | Areeba (2004-2007)
[1] MTN (2007-2019) |
---|---|
Company type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Telecommunications |
Founded | 2004 |
Founder | Investcom |
Headquarters | , Cyprus |
Number of locations | 18 (2021) |
Area served | Cyprus |
Products | |
Owner | Monaco Telecom (100%) |
Number of employees | 300 (2021) |
Parent | Monaco Telecom |
Website |
www |
Epic Ltd (from 2004 to 2007 Areeba Ltd, and then from 2007 to 2019 MTN Cyprus Ltd [2]), is a Cyprus based telecommunications service provider owned by Monaco Telecom. [3]
It is the second largest mobile network operator in Cyprus by number of subscribers, behind Cyta. [4]
In addition to its already established mobile network, the company is a provider of fixed telephony, broadband services and TV. [5]
The company commenced its operations in Cyprus in July 2004 as Areeba after being granted the second mobile telephony licence by the Cyprus Government. [6] In December 2004, Areeba introduced the first 3G network in Cyprus. [7]
In September 2007 Areeba was rebranded to MTN after its parent company ( Investcom) was acquired by the multinational telecommunications company MTN Group. [8] In March 2008, MTN upgraded its 3G network to support HSPA (marketed as 3.5G). [9]
In October 2008, the MTN Group and Amaracos Holdings entered into a partnership with Amaracos acquiring 49% of MTN Cyprus' stock. [10] In turn, MTN Cyprus acquired 100% of Infotel Ltd ( Germanos chain of stores) as well as Otenet (Cyprus) Ltd, a fixed telephony and internet provider, [11] thus entering both the fixed telephony and internet service markets respectively for the first time. [12] In February 2013, the MTN Group reached an agreement with Amaracos Holdings to acquire the latter's share capital in MTN Cyprus, resulting in the MTN Group now possessing 100% of the shares in MTN Cyprus. [13]
In March 2015, MTN launched its 4G/LTE network, being the first alongside PrimeTel to introduce the first 4G networks in Cyprus. [14] In May 2017, MTN expanded its services to include subscription based TV by launching MTN TV. [15]
In September 2018, it was announced that Monaco Telecom (operating in the principality of Monaco and a member of NJJ Holding) had acquired the entire share capital of MTN Cyprus from the MTN Group for €260 million. [16] As a part of the deal Monaco Telecom was allowed to continue using the MTN brand name for three years in exchange for a commercial fee. [17]
In November 2018, MTN upgraded its 4G network to support LTE-A (marketed as 4.5G). [18] In May 2019, MTN announced the deployment of wideband audio for voice calls between its subscribers (also known and marketed as HD voice). [19]
In June 2019, Monaco Telecom retired the MTN brand name and renamed the company as Epic. [20]
In December 2020 Epic deployed VoLTE on its 4G network, becoming the first mobile network in Cyprus to do so. [21] In the same month Epic participated in the Cyprus Government's 5G licence auction, winning a licence enabling it to build and operate a 5G network. [22]
On 9 July 2021 Epic officially launched its 5G network. [23]
According to statistics released by the Office of Electronic Communications & Postal Regulations (OCECPR), as of March 2021, Epic is the second largest mobile network operator in Cyprus, after CYTA (which has a market share of 54.50%), controlling 33.80% of the market. [24]
Epic has won the following awards:
Award | Date/Period | Awarded by |
---|---|---|
Best Mobile Network in Test | June 2020, [25] March 2021 [26] | umlaut |
Fastest Mobile Network | Jan-Jun 2020, [27] Jul-Dec 2020 [28] | Ookla |
Fastest Fixed Internet | Apr-Sep 2023 [29] | Ookla |
Frequency (MHz) | Protocol | Class |
---|---|---|
900 | GSM-900 | 2G |
1800 | GPRS/ EDGE | 2G |
900 | UMTS/ HSPA+ | 3G |
2100 | UMTS/ HSPA+ | 3G |
800 | LTE/ LTE-A | 4G/ 4G+ |
1800 | LTE/ LTE-A | 4G/ 4G+ |
2600 | LTE/ LTE-A | 4G/ 4G+ |
700 | 5G NR | 5G |
3600 | 5G NR | 5G |
Formerly | Areeba (2004-2007)
[1] MTN (2007-2019) |
---|---|
Company type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Telecommunications |
Founded | 2004 |
Founder | Investcom |
Headquarters | , Cyprus |
Number of locations | 18 (2021) |
Area served | Cyprus |
Products | |
Owner | Monaco Telecom (100%) |
Number of employees | 300 (2021) |
Parent | Monaco Telecom |
Website |
www |
Epic Ltd (from 2004 to 2007 Areeba Ltd, and then from 2007 to 2019 MTN Cyprus Ltd [2]), is a Cyprus based telecommunications service provider owned by Monaco Telecom. [3]
It is the second largest mobile network operator in Cyprus by number of subscribers, behind Cyta. [4]
In addition to its already established mobile network, the company is a provider of fixed telephony, broadband services and TV. [5]
The company commenced its operations in Cyprus in July 2004 as Areeba after being granted the second mobile telephony licence by the Cyprus Government. [6] In December 2004, Areeba introduced the first 3G network in Cyprus. [7]
In September 2007 Areeba was rebranded to MTN after its parent company ( Investcom) was acquired by the multinational telecommunications company MTN Group. [8] In March 2008, MTN upgraded its 3G network to support HSPA (marketed as 3.5G). [9]
In October 2008, the MTN Group and Amaracos Holdings entered into a partnership with Amaracos acquiring 49% of MTN Cyprus' stock. [10] In turn, MTN Cyprus acquired 100% of Infotel Ltd ( Germanos chain of stores) as well as Otenet (Cyprus) Ltd, a fixed telephony and internet provider, [11] thus entering both the fixed telephony and internet service markets respectively for the first time. [12] In February 2013, the MTN Group reached an agreement with Amaracos Holdings to acquire the latter's share capital in MTN Cyprus, resulting in the MTN Group now possessing 100% of the shares in MTN Cyprus. [13]
In March 2015, MTN launched its 4G/LTE network, being the first alongside PrimeTel to introduce the first 4G networks in Cyprus. [14] In May 2017, MTN expanded its services to include subscription based TV by launching MTN TV. [15]
In September 2018, it was announced that Monaco Telecom (operating in the principality of Monaco and a member of NJJ Holding) had acquired the entire share capital of MTN Cyprus from the MTN Group for €260 million. [16] As a part of the deal Monaco Telecom was allowed to continue using the MTN brand name for three years in exchange for a commercial fee. [17]
In November 2018, MTN upgraded its 4G network to support LTE-A (marketed as 4.5G). [18] In May 2019, MTN announced the deployment of wideband audio for voice calls between its subscribers (also known and marketed as HD voice). [19]
In June 2019, Monaco Telecom retired the MTN brand name and renamed the company as Epic. [20]
In December 2020 Epic deployed VoLTE on its 4G network, becoming the first mobile network in Cyprus to do so. [21] In the same month Epic participated in the Cyprus Government's 5G licence auction, winning a licence enabling it to build and operate a 5G network. [22]
On 9 July 2021 Epic officially launched its 5G network. [23]
According to statistics released by the Office of Electronic Communications & Postal Regulations (OCECPR), as of March 2021, Epic is the second largest mobile network operator in Cyprus, after CYTA (which has a market share of 54.50%), controlling 33.80% of the market. [24]
Epic has won the following awards:
Award | Date/Period | Awarded by |
---|---|---|
Best Mobile Network in Test | June 2020, [25] March 2021 [26] | umlaut |
Fastest Mobile Network | Jan-Jun 2020, [27] Jul-Dec 2020 [28] | Ookla |
Fastest Fixed Internet | Apr-Sep 2023 [29] | Ookla |
Frequency (MHz) | Protocol | Class |
---|---|---|
900 | GSM-900 | 2G |
1800 | GPRS/ EDGE | 2G |
900 | UMTS/ HSPA+ | 3G |
2100 | UMTS/ HSPA+ | 3G |
800 | LTE/ LTE-A | 4G/ 4G+ |
1800 | LTE/ LTE-A | 4G/ 4G+ |
2600 | LTE/ LTE-A | 4G/ 4G+ |
700 | 5G NR | 5G |
3600 | 5G NR | 5G |