Damianou praises Cyprus’ digital transformation progress
The Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy on Thursday said that Cyprus has made robust strides in the digital sector, something which is backed by the European Commission’s latest ‘State of the Digital Decade 2024’ report.
This annual review measures the digital readiness of EU member states and tracks their progress towards the ambitious goals set for 2030.
Discussing the report’s findings, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou, expressed his satisfaction with the progress and momentum recorded in Cyprus’ digital landscape.
“The government,” he said, “is committed to the digital transition, striving to implement digital solutions that significantly enhance the everyday lives of Cypriot citizens”.
Damianou further emphasised the role of the Digital Decade indicators as a strategic guide. “These indicators provide a crucial framework for our strategy,” he noted, “enabling us to meet the ambitious targets set at both national and European levels.”
“We will continue to analyse each indicator with precision, ensuring our strategies are finely tuned and aligned with the specific data, needs, and challenges we encounter,” he added.
A standout achievement highlighted in the report is the rapid deployment of Gigabit connectivity infrastructure.
The coverage of very high-capacity networks (VHCN) surged to 77.1 per cent in 2023, marking a significant increase of 28.5 per cent compared to the previous year.
Government subsidies aimed at expanding networks in rural areas could mean that Cyprus may hit 100 per cent coverage by the end of 2025.
Furthermore, Cyprus has already reached a milestone in mobile connectivity, achieving 100 per cent coverage in 5G networks—a target set for 2030—seven years ahead of schedule.
Equally encouraging is the growth in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector. The percentage of dedicated ICT specialists in the labour market has now eclipsed the European average of 4.8 per cent, having reached 5.4 per cent.
“This is a vital axis for accelerating digital transformation, as well as for adopting advanced key technologies to develop innovative solutions to socio-economic and environmental challenges,” the ministry said in its announcement.
“However, a significant challenge remains in upgrading the digital skills of the general population, as well as further developing electronic health services,” it added.
In terms of digitising public services, something which the ministry has highlighted as a government priority, Cyprus is again ahead of the curve.
The country recorded an improvement of 16.3 per cent, outpacing the average European growth rate of 3.1 per cent.
The ministry said that this means “that an increasing array of digital services is now available to citizens and local businesses alike”.
However, when it comes to the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, Cypriot SMEs show a more modest uptake.
Conversely, the use of cloud services paints a much better picture, with 45.5 per cent of Cypriot enterprises engaging with these technologies, a figure that surpasses the European average of 38.9 per cent.