When did the internet start in the Czech Republic

The Czech internet recently celebrated its 30th birthday. Looking back, we will trace the key milestones on this journey towards the digital revolution, which has transformed not only the way we communicate, but also the way our society works. When did the internet start in the Czech Republic, and what was its path?

First attempts (1990-1992)

In 1990, the amateur computer network FidoNet was set up in what was then Czechoslovakia, and it was used to exchange messages between users. A year later, in May 1991, the EUnet network appeared, but its availability was limited to computers running Unix systems. The first attempts to connect the Czech Republic to the internet took place in November 1991 at the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT), with a group of technology enthusiasts taking part.

Official connection (1992-1993)

The historic moment came on 13 February 1992, when an internet connection was introduced for the general public. This day is considered the official act of connecting Czechoslovakia to the internet. In March 1993 the university network Cesnet was officially launched, and it still connects the country's universities today.

Growing influence (1995-1998)

In 1995 the .CS domain was abolished and the new .CZ domain was introduced. A year later the Neviditelný pes platform and the internet portal Seznam.cz appeared, and Seznam.cz still counts among the key players in the Czech internet market today. Political parties such as ODS (Civic Democratic Party) and ČSSD (Czech Social Democratic Party) also began actively using the internet for their promotion during these years. In 1998, the internet giant Google was also founded.

Modernisation and innovation (2001-2006)

In 2001 the ADSL internet connection was introduced, and it became a common choice for the general public. This was followed by the development of Wi-Fi wireless technology and the first mobile services offering unlimited internet. In 2006 the IPTV service was launched, which made it possible to broadcast television over the internet.

The mobile and modern era (2010-2017)

In 2010 the share of households with an internet connection exceeded 50%. Mobile LTE connections offering speeds of up to 60 Mbps gradually spread. In 2017 the LTE-A technology spread, bringing even higher transmission speeds and opening the door to new possibilities in the digital world.

5G mania and ISP consolidation (2017-2024)

In recent years, the most discussed topics have been the rollout of 5G transmitters and the consolidation of the telecoms market. Thanks to the huge spread of hoaxes across the internet, the arrival of 5G was rather a drastic innovation. Some people believed that 5G transmitters were killing birds, or that they were to blame for spreading coronavirus. Meanwhile, a consolidation rodeo was going on in the telecoms market. Bigger companies bought smaller ones and created joint "co-ops". Furthermore, thanks to the Internet of Things, our homes are becoming smart, personal data protection is more strictly regulated, streaming services are growing, and with the arrival of artificial intelligence, even the way we carry out our tasks is changing.

You may also like our very popular article Ten rules for staying safe online, which will teach you the basics of moving around the internet safely. Of course, you can apply the individual tips even if you are not yet a customer of ÚVT Internet.

Author: Lukáš Pecina, NejPřipojení.cz