What was the role of the Internet?
B92 was the first internet provider in our country. We started working in 1995, and at first we focused on giving free services and hosting to NGOs and independent media. The internet played a crucial technological role in establishing the Association of Independent Electronic Media...
How did you do it? What did the process involve?
B92's audio signal was transmitted through the internet to London and the server and satellite of BBC World Service. Then they rebroadcast our signal via satellite, and ANEM affiliates (dozens of stations all over the country) received the signal via satellite receivers. Thus, we evaded the obstructions of the regime which did not allow us to spread our signal within Serbia, so we were forced to do it via London.
How many people were listening to you at that time?
It is really hard to speak of the exact figures, but it is a fact that our network covered more than 2/3 of the whole territory of Serbia. Our network was the second largest one, right after the State Radio and Television Network. However, I think that we are talking about the figure of over a million listeners of our news programmes.
What do you think is the role of the Internet in times of social change?
The role of the internet is large primarily because the Internet presents the symbol of connecting to the world and civilisation of the country that was isolated for a decade. In the period of ten years in question, many things have changed, the world made large progress, thus the technological gap was created between our country and the rest of the world which could be compensated by Internet usage, especially as the younger generation is particularly using the internet. This generation has suffered a lot and lost so much time during the sanctions, isolation and bombing of our country.
Do you think that the Web increases political interest in younger people?
It is difficult to speak about this having in mind the number of computers and people using the internet. The reason for it is our low standard of living, bad telephone connections, etc. I am inclined to think that the Internet made it possible for our people living abroad to take an active role in political events in our country. Those are people who want to get back to the country once, and in that sense the Internet is one of the best connections with the homeland.
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