TRNC Communication Costs Double, Internet and Phone Bills Skyrocket
Communication fees in the TRNC have skyrocketed, doubling within a year, making communication a luxury, according to data from the Statistical Institute. Internet and mobile phone bills have become increasingly costly, while landline phone fees have also risen significantly.
In an interview with Kıbrıs Postası, Kemal Basat, President of the Service Providers Association, highlighted the country’s struggle with such dramatic changes. Basat remarked that all processes related to mass internet needs and fiber optic installation for Internet Service Providers are handled exclusively by the TRNC Telecommunications Department.
“100 PERCENT INCREASE IN INTERNET PRICE”
Basat emphasized that every internet provider in the country sets its fees based on the rules and prices established by the TRNC Telecommunications Department. He noted that these costs are publicly available on the website Mahkemeler.net and in the official gazette.
Basat revealed that the recent price update by TRNC Telekom was discovered inadvertently when a member of the Service Providers Association accessed one of the digital platforms. The update revealed a 100 percent increase in internet prices, implemented quietly in August without consulting or informing any providers.
According to information from the Telecommunications Department, the increase was attributed to a 100 percent hike by Türkiye Turk Telekom, which supplies bulk internet to the TRNC Telecommunications Department.
TALKING ON THE PHONE HAS BECOME A LUXURY TOO…
Mobile phone call costs have more than doubled over the past year, with a 32 percent increase compared to the previous month. The situation is similar for landlines, where home-to-home call costs are 0.16 cents per minute, while calls from home to mobile phones and calls to Türkiye, whether to landlines or mobiles, are 0.32 cents per minute.
It was also noted that VAT will be applied to all call fees, adding to the overall cost.
