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Cyta Unveils 2026 Budget For Digital And Infrastructure Upgrades

Strategic Digital Investment For Sustainable Growth

State-owned telecommunications leader Cyta unveiled its 2026 budget before the House finance and budget committee, emphasizing a commitment to digital infrastructure investment, network resilience, and the expansion of next-generation technologies. This forward-looking plan not only bolsters profitability but also reinforces Cyprus’ standing in the digital economy.

Robust Financial Discipline And Future-Focused Investments

Cyta said the budget is based on recent financial performance and a defined investment roadmap. Chair Maria Tsiakka stated that the plan is intended to deliver benefits for citizens, businesses and the wider economy. Revenues increased from €415 million to €442 million, while pre-tax profit is projected to reach €85 million in 2025, indicating steady financial performance and continued investment capacity.

Pioneering Next-Generation Technology Initiatives

The 2026 budget prioritizes next-generation network rollout. Cyta plans to maintain nationwide 5G coverage and continue expanding its fibre network across the island. Fibre works in urban and main rural areas are largely complete, with remote regions scheduled for early 2026, aiming to improve access to digital services.

Enhancing International Connectivity And Network Resilience

International connectivity is another focus area. The completion of the BlueMed subsea cable branch in 2025, along with ongoing expansion projects in the southeastern Mediterranean, is expected to strengthen Cyprus’ digital links. A multi-year agreement with a European satellite provider is also intended to improve broadband access and network reliability.

Investing In Data Infrastructure And Cybersecurity

Data hosting and cybersecurity remain key priorities. Cyta acquired the Simplex LCA1 data center in Larnaca and plans to invest about €20 million in data facilities and a further €20 million in energy upgrades. Compliance with ISO 27001 standards and the NIS2 regulatory framework is cited as part of its security and data protection strategy.

Operational Excellence And Workforce Development

The budget also addresses operational efficiency and workforce planning. Cyta employs around 1,960 staff and has continued targeted hiring while reviewing regulatory frameworks related to workforce restructuring. The approach is intended to align technological investment with human resource planning.

A Pillar Of National Progress

Cyta noted that its contributions to the public purse have exceeded €1.29 billion over the past 25 years. Continued investment in infrastructure and connectivity is expected to support both technological development and broader economic activity in Cyprus.

Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.

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