Communication (market of the Czech Republic)

2020: In the Czech Republic the auction on a 5G frequency was ended

On November 16, 2020 the Czech telecommunication CTU regulator announced the end of an auction for sale of radio frequencies in the ranges of 700 MHz and 3,400-3,600 MHz. Five companies won licenses at auction 5G with total sales of nearly 5.6 billion Czech korunas.

In the range of 700 MHz the O2 Czech Republic operator received the block 2x10 MHz in connection with the obligation to provide services of national roaming and PPDR for state bodies on emergencies and security. Other blocks in the range of 700 MHz purchased T-Mobile Czech Republic and Vodafone Czech Republic.

In a band 3400-3600 MHz blocks on 20 MHz connected with the obligation of lease of frequencies for support of the Fourth industrial revolution were purchased by O2 Czech Republic and CentroNet. Among other successful participants of an auction in this range: T-Mobile Czech Republic, Vodafone Czech Republic and Nordic Telecom 5G.

Poda and Sev.en Innovations also participated in the tender, but did not purchase a range. In spite of the fact that the auction assumed the conditions directed to stimulation of entry into the market of new mobile operators, any of bidders did not purchase enough range to become the fourth operator of a mobile network in the Czech market.

The chairman of the board of CTU of Hang Tuowarkov reported that total sales from an auction were 5.596 billion Czech korunas (212 million euros), and it is more, than it was expected initially. Will pay T-Mobile Czech Republic most - 1.89 billion Czech korunas, then Vodafone Czech Republic with the amount of 1.568 billion Czech korunas and O2 Czech Republic operator who has 1.342 billion Czech korunas follows. Other participants of an auction, CentroNet and Nordic Telecom company will pay 628 million Czech korunas and 168 million Czech korunas respectively.^[1]

2018: The Czech Republic prepares for the answer of China to the declaration of the equipment of Huawei threat to national security

In January, 2019 the president of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman criticized the statement of the IT regulator for the equipment of Huawei menacing to national security and warned about response measures of China.

In December, 2018 the Czech National agency on digital and information security (    National Cyber and Information Security Agency, NCISA) issued the report in which it recommended to the local companies not to use the software and devices of Huawei and ZTE as, according to the regulator, these products represent threat for security of the state.

President of the Czech Republic: We will regret that we refused the equipment of Huawei. China will punish us

According to Bloomberg news agency, Zeman took mainly diplomatic position in this question Melosh and noted that the issued report does not contain proofs which confirm statements of the regulator. At the same time the report led to "serious" threat to the economic interests of the Czech Republic in China, the head of state considers.

In an interview to the Prague TV channel Barrandov TV Melosh Zeman reported that "some members" the Czech government have information on "response" which is prepared by China after the recommendations of NCISA to refuse use of technologies of Huawei and ZTE.

According to the president, because of it the interests of car maker Skoda Auto and PPF investment group in Celestial Empire can suffer. Zeman reminded that during his visit to the People's Republic of China in November, 2018 of Skoda signed the large investment agreement in this country. Between PPF holding and Huawei was earlier the agreement on construction of 5G networks in the Czech Republic is signed. The Chinese company was going to invest 8.5 billion  kroner (about $385 million) for development of networks of fifth generation of mobile communication in the European country.

The vice-chairman of the Czech government Richard Brabez also allows a possibility of application of response measures of China against the Czech Republic.