Most bulletin boards like fidonet existed in parallel with the internet, and even used internet bridges to transfer mail and files across long distances where a dialup connection could not be used.
NNTP actally was quite network agnostic, the messages did not care about the means of transport. I actually handled a NNTP link back then via floppy disk.
Do we count Bulletin Boards as pre Internet?
Most bulletin boards like fidonet existed in parallel with the internet, and even used internet bridges to transfer mail and files across long distances where a dialup connection could not be used.
NNTP actally was quite network agnostic, the messages did not care about the means of transport. I actually handled a NNTP link back then via floppy disk.