OTE

Greece's Culture Ministry on Monday signed an agreement with Cosmote, the mobile phone unit of the country's largest telecom company OTE, to expand free WiF access to the visitors of the most prominent archaeological sites and museums around the country.

The program started several years ago but the new deal extends broadband coverage to 25 sites and museums, from the current 14.

Increasing pessimism on the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the economy weighed heavily on most blue chips at Athinon Avenue on Monday, including banks, with the benchmark only just remaining above the 600-point level. Prices also suffered pressure from some negative results issued by listed companies over the last few days.

Greek broadband internet users have to wait from one to three weeks for connections to be repaired, according to data from the National Commission for Telecommunications and Post (EETT).

Greece has seen an increase of at least 50 percent in internet use in recent days following the government's decision to restrict citizens' movements to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, according to officials at the Digital Governance Ministry who indicated however that telecommunications networks are handling the strain so far.

Greece's biggest telecoms operator OTE posted a 9.4 percent rise in fourth-quarter core profit on Wednesday thanks to growing business at its home market.

Greek stocks suffered a significant drop on Friday, wiping out almost all the gains registered by the bourse benchmark over the course of the week. The decline was led by the banks index, which posted a 4.42 percent weekly loss.

Members of the anarchist group Rouvikonas on Saturday morning scattered flyers outside the home of the Australian Ambassador to Greece Arthur Spyrou in a bid to protest the Australian authorities' handling of fatal wildfires that have been ravaging the country in recent weeks.
The incident did not result in any vandalism as is frequently the case with stunts by the group.

Members of anarchist group Rouvikonas sprayed slogans on the wall of the house of the chairman and chief executive officer of Greek telecoms operator OTE Michael Tsamaz in the northern suburb of Melissia, late Wednesday night.

On the first day of the year, the European emergency number 112 became fully operational in Greece, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, which will be responsible for the service, has said.

The last bourse session before Christmas at Athinon Avenue brought most listed companies a welcome festive gift, as sellers stood out for their absence, leaving buyers to have a field day on reduced turnover.