Local authorities deny SBB request

SBB

The local authorities in the northern Serbian town of Becej have refused an SBB request to bring faster Internet access to its residents.

An IT expert told N1 that he was forced to move out of his home town because his video game designer job required fast access which the two local providers (the Hungarian St Trakt and state-owned Telekom Serbia) are not giving their clients.

IT expert Milos Sadzakov said that access speed is not the only problem, adding that what should take 3 minutes to do in the city of Novi Sad where his company is based takes half an hour in Becej.

SBB filed a request with the local autorities in Becej to set up infrastructure across the town following a petition by local residents. That request was denied and a second request was filed with no response from Becej town hall. SBB official Aleksandar Kasikovic said that the company has been waiting since February 1, 2023 when the request was filed. The legal deadline to respond is 30 days.

N1 tried to contact the local official in charge of urban development but got no response.

Several people told N1 that they think the problem is SBB because the authorities view that company as pro-opposition and anti-government as well as being the main rival to Telekom Serbia. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is in power in Becej with its local partner the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) with no opposition members of the local council.

Officials from local NGOs said that the local population does not have access to any independent media since they are not included in the Telekom offer.