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From Landlines to ICQ

Communication in Bulgaria in the Year 2000: From Landlines to ICQ.

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If you remember the “uh-oh” of ICQ or the thrill of waiting for your modem to connect, this article is for you! Dive into a time when landlines ruled, mobile phones were just gaining traction, and SMS and ICQ were the cutting-edge ways to communicate. In 2000, Bulgaria started its digital transformation—complete with Mobikom’s early cell phones, Mtel’s GSM network, and the internet’s slow yet exciting arrival. Let’s explore how Bulgarians connected at the dawn of the millennium!

Between the early 1990s and 2000, Bulgaria pioneered and adapted to a rapidly evolving landscape of communication technologies. While landlines were still widely used, cell phones, SMS messaging, and the internet were becoming more accessible. Platforms like ICQ allowed Bulgarians to connect in new ways, while internet access expanded beyond early users at Sofia University and Technical University. Let’s explore how Bulgarians were communicating at the turn of the millennium.

Landlines: The Backbone of Bulgarian Communication

In 2000, landline telephones were still the backbone of Bulgarian communication. The Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) was the primary provider of fixed-line services, and about 95% of Bulgarian households had a landline. These calls were crucial for both personal and business communication. However, high costs limited international calling, making local calls more common.

Interesting Fact: Calling cards and payphones were still widely used for long-distance and international calls, especially by those without personal landline access at home.

Mobile Phones in Bulgaria: Mobikom and the Arrival of Mtel

In the early 1990s, mobile communication emerged as a new frontier in Bulgaria. Mobikom, the country’s first mobile provider, launched in 1993, using an analog system based on the NMT standard. Although limited in coverage, Mobikom’s mobile phones—commonly called “Mobifons“—were a sign of things to come. However, their high costs and large sizes meant large businesses and government officials mostly used them.

Then came Mtel (now known as A1), which introduced GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology in 1995, ushering in the era of digital mobile networks in Bulgaria. This brought better coverage and affordable options, gradually making cell phones accessible to the general public.

  • Global User Stats: By 2000, there were over 700 million mobile phone users globally.
  • Bulgarian User Stats: In Bulgaria, cell phone ownership was rising but still below 30%, making it a status symbol or a business tool rather than an everyday device.


Interesting Fact: Early cell phones could only store a few text messages and limited contacts, making SMS a luxury. Mtel’s entry, however, sparked the widespread adoption of SMS by younger Bulgarians, who quickly saw it as a fun and affordable way to communicate. New Nokia and Siemens phones allowed the storage of almost all favorite SMS messages.

The Internet in Bulgaria: Expanding from Universities to Households

The internet was a rare luxury in Bulgaria in the 1990s. One of the country’s earliest internet connections was provided to Sofia University faculty in 1993 and 1994—a pioneering moment for online connectivity. However, widespread access didn’t begin until later in the decade, with early providers like Techno-link, BTC Net, Orbitel, and Spectrum Net offering dial-up services. Most Bulgarians accessed the internet through dial-up connections, often at 56 kbps, and had to connect via landlines. This required patience due to low speeds and the familiar screeching modem sounds.

  • Internet Access in 2000: Around 6% of Bulgarians had internet access, primarily through home dial-up or internet cafes.
  • Connection Experience: With per-minute charges, Bulgarians often limit their time online, spending careful minutes browsing, reading, and chatting.
  • Shared Connections: Some providers, such as Sofia University, did not limit the number of dial-up users connected via the same user account, thus allowing for account sharing between family and friends.


Interesting Fact: Internet cafes became the hub of early Internet access, where people would gather to send emails, browse websites, or chat online, making them social centers and access points.

ICQ and Early Online Chat in Bulgaria

Communication in Bulgaria in the Year 2000: From Landlines to ICQ.
Communication in Bulgaria in the Year 2000: From Landlines to ICQ.

The late 1990s and early 2000s brought the excitement of instant messaging, with platforms like ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger offering a new way to connect. ICQ, launched in 1996, became especially popular in Bulgaria, where it introduced features like user IDs, status updates, and chat rooms. With its iconic “uh-oh” sound, ICQ quickly became a hit among Bulgarians, who used it to keep in touch with friends locally and abroad.

  • Global User Stats: By 2000, ICQ had about 100 million users worldwide.
  • ICQ in Bulgaria: If you remember ICQ, you’ll recall that it was more than just a chat—it was where friendships, romances, and even a few marriages began, often with the iconic “uh-oh” message notification. ICQ became incredibly popular among teens and university students in Bulgaria, offering a low-cost, fun way to connect. Whether you were chatting from your computer with friends, confessing a crush, or meeting someone special, ICQ was the go-to for staying connected and sometimes even finding love in the early digital world.


Fun Fact: Bulgarian users often memorized their unique ICQ numbers, which were shared like phone numbers and became a symbol of one’s digital identity.

Email in Bulgaria: A New Formal Communication

By 2000, email was emerging as an essential communication tool. Bulgarian companies and universities embraced email for official communications, and platforms like Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail offered free accounts for personal use. While still rare for home users, emails became a preferred way to communicate formally, with businesses and academic circles adopting it early.

Bulgaria’s Digital Transformation at the Turn of the Millennium

The influence of landlines, the novelty of mobile phones, and the growing popularity of internet access shaped Bulgaria’s communication landscape in 2000. Providers like Mobikom, Mtel, BTC, and early internet providers like Orbitel and BTC Net paved the way for the digital age. Each new development—from analog Mobifons to internet chat rooms—redefined how Bulgarians interacted with the world, marking a rapid, exciting change.

Interesting Tidbits: Late 1990s

  • SMS Cost: Early SMS messages were pricey, leading to developing “SMS language” or shorthand to save on character limits.
  • ICQ “Uh-Oh”: ICQ’s notification sound became a cultural icon and was recognized even outside chat users.
  • Unique ICQ IDs: Bulgarian teens memorized their ICQ numbers as identifiers, which they shared like modern-day social media profiles.
  • The Dial-Up Ritual: Connecting to the internet was a full experience, complete with modem noises and the ritual of logging off to free up phone lines.


Between 1993 and 2000, communication in Bulgaria blended old and new, from landline telephones and Mobifons to ICQ chats and the early Internet. This period marked the beginning of Bulgaria’s journey into the digital age, with each new technology paving the way for better connectivity, more accessible communication, and a growing global community. For Bulgarians, these were the first steps toward the hyper-connected world we know today, creating unforgettable moments and connections.

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