Press Releases

Remote Working- Remote Access, Use of Portable Devices and Meetings over the Internet

During 2022, 81,4% of all enterprises provide remote access to their e-mail system, 68,7% to the enterprise’s documents, including spreadsheets, presentations, or any other files and 64,8% provide remote access to enterprise’s business applications or software used by the enterprise, such as application or software related to accounting, sales or other business software. (Figure 1)

Remote access refers to the enterprises’ readiness, capacity and willingness to make it possible for their persons employed to work remotely, by giving them remote access to enterprise’s resources (e.g. remote e-mail access, remote access to documents and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems of the enterprise).

85,9% of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed, provided portable devices that allow a mobile connection to the internet using mobile telephone networks, for business purposes. By “providing portable devices” we mean devices that are provided by the enterprise and the subscription and usage costs of the devices are being paid either in full or at least up to a limit by the enterprise. (Figure 1)

In 2022, 59,0% of all enterprises have conducted remote meetings via the internet (e.g., Skype, Zoom, MS teams, WebEx etc.). (Figure 1)

Internet Connection Speed

The demand for high-speed internet connections (100 Mbit/s or more) has increased significantly over the years. In 2022, six out of ten enterprises (61,2%) have internet connection speeds higher than 100 Mbit/s compared to 10,2% in 2018. (Table 1)

In 2022, the most popular contracted download speed among enterprises in Cyprus was at least 100 Mbit/s but less than 500 Mbit/s (39,2% of all enterprises). The second most popular download speed was at least 30 Mbit/s but less than 100 Mbit/s (22,7%), followed by the enterprises with download speeds of at least 500 Mbit/s but less than 1 Gbit/s and by the enterprises of more than 1 Gbit/s, with 11,0%. The least favourite download speed was the less than 30 Mbit/s with 8%. (Figure 2)

E-Commerce Sales

During 2021, one out of five enterprises (22,0%) received orders for goods and services via computer networks. 21,2% received orders for goods and services via websites or “apps” and 3,3% via EDI – type messages. 17,8% of all enterprises received orders for goods and services via the enterprise’s own websites or “apps”, while 11,9% received orders via e-commerce marketplace websites or “apps” used by several enterprises for trading products. 19,6% of enterprises received orders via websites or “apps” from private customers compared to 12,7% of enterprises which received orders from other businesses and/or from the general government. 19,9% of enterprises received orders via websites or “apps” from customers located in Cyprus, 9,6% from customers from other EU countries and 8,2% from customers from the rest of the world. (Figure 3)   

ICT Specialists and Skills

The information and communications technology (ICT) specialist, develops, designs, maintains, operates and services systems and applications that are used to store, retrieve, and send data.

One out of four enterprises (24,5%) employ ICT specialists. In large enterprises that percentage reaches 73,3% compared to 20,1% in small enterprises (Table 2).

The percentage of enterprises that provided any type of training during 2021, to develop ICT related skills to either ICT specialists or other persons employed, remains low at 13,9% and 25,6% respectively. In large enterprises the corresponding percentages are 51,1% (ICT specialists) and 65,7% (other persons employed) (Table 2).

10,5% of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed, recruited or tried to recruit ICT specialists in 2021. 5,7% of the enterprises faced difficulties to fill the ICT specialist’s vacancies during 2021 (Table 2).

Methodological Notes

Aim

The aim of the survey is to collect data about the use of information and communication technologies by the enterprises, the access and use of the internet, e-commerce, ICT specialists and their skills, ICT security, the use of robotics and ICT and the environment. The data are necessary for the implementation of policy programs of both the Government and the Private Sector.

Coverage

The survey took place during February-June, 2022 and covered approximately 2.700 enterprises with 10 or more employed persons in the following economic activities:

The survey covers all the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Sampling

For the year 2022 all small, medium and large enterprises (census of enterprises) with 10 or more employed persons and self-employed persons were covered. In the frame there were 32 NACE groups and 3 size groups (Small enterprises (10-49 employed persons), Medium enterprises (50-249 employed persons) and Large enterprises (250+ employed persons)).

Data Collection

The data collection was conducted with the use of a web-based questionnaire. 

Reference Period

The data refer to 2022 unless otherwise stated.

Definitions

Internet connection speed: the maximum download speed according to the contract with the Internet service provider.

Electronic commerce (e-Commerce): An e-Commerce transaction is the sale or purchase of goods or services, conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing of orders.

Computers: Includes personal computers, portable computers (e.g. laptops, notebooks, netbooks), tablets, other portable devices like Smartphones.

ICT specialists: Employees for whom ICT is their main job. For example, they are responsible for the development, operation or maintenance of ICT systems or applications. 

For more information:

CYSTAT Portal, subtheme Information Society, CYSTAT-DB (Online Database)

Data up to 2020 are available in excel format under the section Predefined Tables

Contact:

Constantinos Minas: Tel.: +35722602112, Email: cmina@cystat.mof.gov.cy

Thomas Gregoriou: Tel.: +357       22602126, Email: tgregoriou@cystat.mof.gov.cy

(NG/SCH)