Sign Up
Serbia
The 2002 census shows that the population of Serbia has dropped dramatically. According to the country’s Federal Statistical Office the population of Serbia 7,498,000 (excluding Montenegro and Kosovo, as at year end 2002). It had dropped by 3 million over a decade. However, it isn’t altogether clear that the dramatic drop is accounted for by emigration. We suspect that it may be a result of not included Kosovo (population 2 million) and Montenegro (Pop 650,000) in the earlier statistics. All statistics exclude Montenegro. (1) Neither SES-Astra nor Eutelsat provide statistics on their cable and DTH distribution in Serbia.
As far as we are aware there simply are no reliable statistics on either the number of DTH or cable homes in Serbia. As far as we are aware little only professional market research undertaken on the DTH marketplace in Serbia was undertaken in 1997, which suggested about 12% of the population had access to satellite television. Research in May 2000 by SMMRI research indicated that about 22% of the population could receive satellite television and that 3.2% of Serbia’s population are satellite users. That seems to suggest an installed DTH base of around 240,000 at the time. Based on that we estimate that there are now some 350,000 DTH households. (2) 238,000 Internet subscribers. At least until recently, nearly half of Serbia’s Internet users obtained Internet access through the country’s academic network. (3) DTT estimate.
Basic Data on Serbia
Statistic
Value
Comments
Population
7,498,000
Official census for 2002
GDP at PPP
US$24.7 billion
Dresdner Bank estimate for 2002
GDP per head at PPP
US$2,327
Dresdner Bank estimate for 2002
Fixed line telephony density
Mobile Density
Number of Fixed Telephone lines in service
2,307,963
31/12/02, Source, OTE annual accounts
Number of Mobile Phone subscribers
2,100,000
Number of Internet Users
400,000
(2)
Total number of ISPs
44
DTT estimate
Number of TV Households
Number of DTH terminals
350,000
(1)
Number of SMATV attached terminals
Number of Cable TV Households
100,000
(3)
Number of Digital DTH pay-TV subscribers
Number of MMDS Households
Number of hybrid satcoms Internet terminals
Number of 2-way satcoms Internet access terminals
WTO Basic Telecoms Agreement
No
Broadcasting in Serbia is in the process of reform but this has been held up by delays in passing the new Telecommunications Act. The planned telecoms regulatory will be responsible for spectrum management licensing. In the absence of a telecoms regulator, licensing of TV and broadcasting stations has been in suspense.The new telecoms legislation is expected to come into force this year. Serbia’s public service broadcaster, RTS, has been massively reformed.
According to B92 (www.b92.net), as at November 2000 there were 700 broadcasters in Serbia of which 95% didn’t have valid licenses. The number included radio broadcasters. The number of broadcasters subsequently increased. The Minister of Information is claimed to have stated in the Summer of 2002 that there were 253 television stations in Serbia.
How they make a living isn’t clear though. Piracy of programming off of satellite TV has been reported to be very extensive. Indeed, under Milosevic piracy was actively encouraged (to get back at the West) and then banned (to protect his own control of media).
Cable television networks have also extensively been involved in piracy. However, most of the stations appear to be operating in a regulatory and legal limbo. Current policy involves RTS operating two national services and another two commercial broadcasters operating two national channels. A fifth network of local TV stations plus local TV stations operating outside of the network are also envisaged.
A new broadcasting network is also being formed. The Serbian TV Network (STM) groups (as at May 2003) five local TV stations – NIS TV, Novi Sad Apolo, Kragujvac RTV, Uzice TV5 and Kraljvo.
Serbian TV Channels on Satellite
Channel
Satellite
Comments
Mreza Plus
Intelsat 707 at 1º East
NTV Hayat
Eutelsat W2 16º East
Clear and Viaccess 2
Open Broadcast Network
Eutelsat Sesat at 36º East
FTA
Anem
Eutelsat W2 at 16º East
DMV
B92
Eutelsat W2 at 16º East
DMV
BK-TV Sat
Atlantic Bird 2 at 8º West
Nagravision
BK-TV Sat
Hot Bird 3 at 13º West
FTA
BK-TV Sat
Eurasiasat 1 at 42º East
FTA
Extra
Hot Bird 4 at 13º East
Irdeto 2
Extra
Atlantic Bird 3 at 5º West
Irdeto 2
Pink Plus
Hot Bird 4 at 13º East
Irdeto 2
Pink Plus
Atlantic Bird 3 at 5º West
Irdeto 2
Pink TV Bosnia Hercegovina
Atlantic Bird 3 at 5º West
Irdeto 2
Pink TV Montenegro
Atlantic Bird 3 at 5º West
Irdeto 2
Pink TV
Atlantic Bird 3 at 5º West
Irdeto 2
RTS Sat
Express 3A at 11º West
FTA
RTS Sat
Hot Bird 3 at 13º West
FTA
BK-TV Satcom
Telstar 5 at 97º West
Nagravision, uplinked by Globecast North America
BK-TV Satcom
Thaicom 3 at 78.5º East
Known Serbian Broadcasters
Channel
Coverage
Notes
Art TV (The Culture Channel)
Semi-national
www.arttv.co.yu
BK Television
National (60%)
www.bktv.com
Kanal 1
Regional/Local?
www.kanal1.co.yu
TV Kosava
Local
Belgrade (no longer transmitting?)
TV Pink
Regional
Belgrade
TV Politika
Regional?
Belgrade
RTV Novi Sad
Regional
Novi Sad, Vojvodina
RTV5
Local
Based in Nis www.rtv5.co.yu
Studio B
Local
TV 5
Local
Uzice
TV Artvizija
Local
Niš
TV As
Local
Šabac
TV B92
Local
Belgrade
TV Bajina Basta
Local
Bajina Basta
TV Biser
Local
Pozarevac
TV Cacak
Local
Cacak
TV Cronic
Local
Valjevo
TV Devic
Local
Smederevska Palanka
TV Euro M-J
Local
Kladovo
TV F
Local
Zajecar
TV Folk Disk
Local
Salaš
TV Galaksija
Local
Cacak
TV Gradska
Local
Nis
TV Grk
Local
Prokuplje
TV Grk
Local
Prokuplje
TV In
Local
Kragujevac
TV Jefimija
Local
Kruševac
TV K21
Local
Jagodina
TV Kanal 9
Local
Kragujevac
TV Kragujevac
Local
Kragujevac
TV Kraljevo
Local
Kraljevo
TV Kursumlija
Local
Kursumlija
TV Lasta
Local
Backa Palanka
TV M
Local
Paracin
TV Mlava Medija
Local
Petrovac na Mlavi
TV Negotin
Local
Negotin
TV Nemanja
Local
Cuprija
TV Palma
Regional
TV Pancevo
Local
Pancevo
TV Pirot
Local
Pirot
TV Plus
Local
Kruševac
TV Pozega
Local
Pozega
TV Rosulja
Local
Vlasotince
TV San
Local
Novi Pazar
TV Sokobanja
Local
Sokobanja
TV Spektrum
Local
Cacak
TV Studio M
Local
Vranje
TV Studio Mag
Local
Obrenovac
TV Studio Top 3
Local
Prokuplje
TV STV Sunce K54
Local
Sombor
TV Svitel
Local
Svilajnac
TV Trstenik
Local
Trstenik
TV TV5
Local
Uzice
YU Info
National
Satellite Service Providers
The main satellite service provider, Telecom Serbia. its main teleport at Ivanjica which had three main antennas. Jugoslavija 1 was a 32 metre IOR Intelsat dish installed in 1973. Jugoslavija 2, installed in 1983, provided IOR coverage and Jugoslavija 3 was a Eutelsat earth station.
Cable Television
Telekom Serbia owns the country’s largest cable television network, TV Subotica, which appears to have upwards of 40,000 subscribers. Cable operator KDS (www.kds.co.yu), which we understand operates in Belgrade and Vojvodina, suggests that it its part of the Serbian postal service. Euronews has stated that KDS has 26,000 subscribers. There is a cable TV association for Serbia but its web site (www.catv.org.yu) appears to no longer be operational.
Internet via Satellite
The ISP operation of the local PTT and the local EUNet affiliate were seen as being tied to several pro-regime large banking companies. Telekom Serbia’s monopoly appears to include fixed terrestrial international IP links. According to Telekom Serbia’s web site, it makes no use of satellites to connect to international backbone. However, this has been consistently contradicted by our research over the last few years which suggest that it has been using at least a one-way satellite link.
Serbian ISP Links to Backbone
ISP
Web site
International Link to backbone
Absolut OK.Net
www.absolutok.net
Fibre, 256 ms
Arkayu
www.arkayu.net
Satcom, 646 ms through Infosky (2001, 1417 ms through Orion/Informatika)
AXPan
www.axpan.net
Fibre 243 ms
Banker Internet
www.bankerinter.net
Fibre, 290 ms
BeoNet
www.beonet.yu
Fibre? Server not located in Serbia
BeoTelNet (BTNet)
www.beotel.yu
Satcom? 486 ms (2001, Satcom, 414 ms through Taide, direct) (3)
Bits Internet
www.bitsyu.net
Fibre, 238 ms (2)
Blic Net
www.blic.net
Fibre 227 ms
DataNet
www.datanet.yu
Fibre, 250 ms
Drenik Net
www.drenik.net
Fibre, 244 ms
EUNet Yugoslavia
www.eunet.yu
Fibre 228 ms
EutelNet
www.eutelnet.com
Fibre, 227 ms
Formanet
www.formanet.co.yu
Fibre 251 ms
GTLNet
www.gtlnet.com
Fibre, 243 ms
HemoNet
www.hemo.net
Satcoms, 487 ms through Beotel. Web site still suggests satcoms link May 2003. (2001, Satcom, 485 ms through Tiade/Beotel)
I*Net
www.inet.co.yu
Unable to trace route. Fibre, 238 ms through DT/Beotel
Informatika
www.informatika.co.yu
Fibre, 228 ms. Claims to use 45 MBit/s Satcoms link (May 2003) (2001 Satcom, 733 ms through Orion, direct)
InfoSky
www.infosky.net
Fibre, 257 ms (2001 Satcom, 737 ms through Orion, direct)
M&GNet
www.mgnet.co.yu
Fibre 272 ms
MadNet
www.madnet.co.yu
Server in USA, probably not an ISP
Medianis
www.medianis.net
Fibre 248 ms
Mediaworks
www.mediaworks.co.yu
Fibre, 255 ms. Probably not an ISP - offers wireless Internet access
Memodata*
www.memodata.net
Possibly satcom, trace route unclear at 515 ms. (2001, fibre, 397 ms through Seabone/Telekom Serbia)
MPA Informaticki
www.mpa.co.yu
Not an ISP?. Fibre, 437 ms through DT/Beotel
NeoBee (MetroHiveNet)
www.neobee.net
Fibre, 250 ms
Net022
www.net022.co.yu
Fibre, 242 ms
Nordnet
www.yunord.net
Probably fibre at 343 ms (2001 fibre, 421 ms through Seabone/Telekom Serbia)
NSPointNet
www.nspoint.net
Fibre 271 ms
Panet Internet
www.panet.co.yu
Fibre, 238 ms
PTT Serbia Net
www.ptt.yu
Fibre, 226 ms
Ravangrad.Net
www.ravangrad.net
Fibre, 251 ms
Routo
www.routo.co.yu
Possibly not an ISP, server not in Serbia
Scnet (Sava Centar Net)
www.scnet.yu
Fibre, 229 ms
Sezampro Online
www.sezampro.yu
Fibre, 349 ms (1)
Silver Net
www.yu1.net
Fibre 310 ms
Sksyu Net
www.sksyu.net
Fibre 282 ms
Sombor.com
www.sombor.com
Fibre 256 ms
SRCE
www.srce.net
Fibre, 339 ms
Team Net
www.teamnet.ws
Satcom, 508 ms through Infosky
Tehnicom
www.tehnicom.net
Satcom, 755 ms (located in Belgrade, though)
Verat
www.verat.net
Fibre, 243 ms
YUBC.net
www.yubc.net
Fibre, 247 ms
Tron-Internet.net
www.tron-inter.net
Fibre, 244 ms
Tipp Top
www.tippnet.co.yu
Fibre 277 ms
Sources of Information: Network Information Centre, Yugoslavia (www.nic.yu/isp.html); Internet Service Providers Organisation of Yugoslavia (www.isp.org.yu). DTT Consulting past research.