The CTU is offering 20-year licence extensions in exchange for operators tackling white spots and ensuring networks remain resilient during crisis situations
800MHz, 1800MHz and 2.6GHz licences may be renewed until 2049
On 13 August 2026, the Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) launched a month-long consultation on proposals to extend spectrum licences in the 800MHz, 1800MHz and 2.6GHz bands currently held by O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone. The licences are set to expire on 30 June 2029, but the proposal would extend them for an additional 20 years, i.e. until 30 June 2049. In exchange, the regulator would impose new conditions on the three licensees, including increasing the number of covered “white spots”, improved coverage on additional railway corridors and enhanced network resilience. Marek Ebert (Chairman, CTU Council) stated that, through these requirements, “the CTU aims to ensure the widest possible availability of quality mobile services”. Czechia is following the lead of other European countries that have proposed to or decided to renew spectrum licences on the basis of stronger coverage requirements (e.g. Germany, Italy) or investment commitments (e.g. Portugal). One outlier here is Switzerland, which, instead of renewing incumbents’ licences, intends to re-auction spectrum set to expire in 2028.
The CTU would broaden the definition of a white spot, bringing more premises in scope of operators’ coverage obligations
Under their current licences, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone already face obligations to cover 200 white spots by the end of 2030 with newly-built infrastructure, and 300 more using infrastructure shared with other operators. Buildings count as a white spot where the CTU determines that at least 97% of the relevant points are not adequately covered by any of the operators’ 4G or 5G networks. Under the regulator’s proposed licence conditions, these requirements would become stricter, and between 2031 and 2034 operators would have to cover an additional 200 white spots with their own infrastructure and 300 more with shared infrastructure. The definition of a white spot would also be expanded from inhabited houses to include shops, accommodation facilities, civic/public buildings, offices and other relevant structures. According to the CTU, these obligations would guarantee the coverage of at least 1,200 white spots with newly-built infrastructure by the end of 2034.
Licensees must also ensure networks are resilient in the event of a crisis
The CTU would impose additional obligations on licensees alongside covering white spots, including:
Better coverage on specified railway corridors applying from 2036;
Maintaining coverage of at least 99% of the population of each district of Czechia from 1 February 2031; and
Enhanced network resilience requirements.
By the end of 2029, operators would be required to improve resilience in crisis situations. Specifically, they would need to ensure that a defined range of mobile services are available to 80% of the population of Czechia and to designated Integrated Rescue System (IRS – i.e. emergency services) workplaces for a period of six hours from the moment of a power outage. Operators would need to ensure that “voice communication services”, defined as including SMS and emergency communications, are available alongside mobile data services with download and upload speeds of at least 5Mbps and 1Mbps, respectively. The CTU’s proposals reflect those outlined by the Spain Government in June 2026, via a Draft Royal Decree, which would require operators to ensure at least four hours of network coverage in the event of a power outage.
