On October 29, the Internet’s Birthday is celebrated – a technology that changed the world. It was on this day in 1969 that the first data transmission between two computers on the ARPANET network occurred.
Today, the internet has become an integral part of the daily lives of billions of people, turning into a global phenomenon. In Ukraine, the internet began to spread only from the early 1990s and gained widespread use in the 2000s. Members of the AIN team shared their first memories of connecting to the global network.
Oleksandr Strelnikov, editor-in-chief of AIN, recalls how in 2001, with the help of an infrared USB adapter and a mobile phone, he connected to the internet for the first time, discovering a new world of information. Liza Kryventseva, Business Development Manager, in 2003, dove into the online space using a modem, where the modem’s connection sound was a familiar part of the initial experience.
In 2004, Anastasia Ivantsova, AIN’s editor-in-chief, first used the internet from a mobile phone to download ringtones, while Sofia Yelagina, a journalist, had access to the internet at a young age via a computer. The network simplified communication with relatives abroad, eliminating the need for paper letters or long phone calls.
Rostyslav Sobachynskyi and Anastasia Kerpany joined the digital world later, in 2009 and 2010, respectively – the former through mobile internet and the latter through cable connection. Both recall their amazement and the possibilities that opened up to them.
In 2011, Anastasia Ampilogova discovered the internet at a friend’s house, and Viktoriya Olischuk gained a sense of global openness through a modem. Luiza Chekurda and Yuriy Shtokalyuk, from 2010 and 2015, respectively, noted how the internet influenced access to information, entertainment, and education.
Today, the internet continues to evolve, impacting all aspects of life, while the initial moments of connection remain in the memory of modern users as a symbol of new opportunities and boundlessness.
