Buses in Nicosia and Larnaca receive a major upgrade

Cyprus is investing in upgrading its public transport services. Bus services in Nicosia and Larnaca, two of the largest cities in the country, have benefited from a major upgrade. 

As part of this, all of the 300 Cyprus Public Transport buses operating in Nicosia and Larnaca are now equipped with 5G Wi-Fi networks onboard. Bus stations have also been equipped with a high-speed Wi-Fi network. The provision of a fast internet connection is only part of a large revamp of public transport services: a new route network has been set up, including better connections in the early morning and for night bus routes. The frequency of services has also been increased, with existing lines’ service times being extended and transfer points being better coordinated to reduce passengers’ waiting times.

Yiannis Karousos, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, stated that public transport use is already increasing. Cyprus Public Transport experienced an increase of 27% in the sale of tickets and bus cards in Nicosia, and 57% in Larnaca, comparing the data of December 2021 to that of December 2020.

Public transport improvements form part of the current work being undertaken in the context of Nicosia’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. A completely new bus network was one of the first aims of this in order to trigger major changes to transport in the city.

Cyprus Public Transport CEO Julio Tironi states that the company’s goal is to make buses a viable alternative to private vehicles. He adds that the 5G network is not only a fast internet network for the benefit of passengers. It allows the development of automation and the better use of service applications to provide a better quality of life.