August 1, 2025
July saw state-owned company Elekrodistribucija Srbije, working in cooperation with Telekom Srbija, prevent the work of smaller cable television providers that include in their offer independent television stations N1 and Nova S. Elekrodistribucija Srbije cut the cables of these companies in at least six cities and several villages in central and southern Serbia.
Local residents of some of the villages attempted to prevent workers of Elektrodistribucija and Telekom Srbija from cutting cables, despite the police intervening.
The lawyer of Ivan Rajković, owner of operator Online net doo Jala, said that he received an offer from Telekom Srbija to remove N1 and Nova S, with the promise that they would consequently be able to operate normally. Telekom Srbija also offered to buy his part of the network, but he rejected the offer. This operator’s cables are now being cut.
Workers of state-owned Telekom Srbija are simultaneously offering favourable contracts to users who opt to switch to their cable network. Telekom has the largest cable network in Serbia, but it doesn’t broadcast the programming of independent television companies N1 and Nova S, while it does everything to reduce their visibility. The viewing figures of these television stations have nonetheless been increasing continuously throughout the protests across Serbia.
Elektrodistribucija Srbije claims that the removal of illegally installed networks is the sole purpose of cutting cables.
