National telecommunications regulator of the Czech Republic CTU has announced the start of an electronic auction procedure to distribute spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3,400-3,600 MHz bands for 5G services.
On the basis of the new public consultation held, the regulator has modified certain conditions of the tender compared to its proposal at the start of the year. A block of 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz band will be reserved for new applicants to enter the mobile market. A limit has been introduced also on the amount of frequencies held by each participant in the tender.
The conditions add a requirement for provision of national roaming services by existing mobile operators in favour of new operators, until the new operators meet set conditions for the development of their own 5G networks. The contractors will have an obligation to lease spectrum to support Industry 4.0 applications as well.
The regulator has also defined criteria for the rapid development of 5G networks, including deadlines for covering motorways and railways.Applications for the selection procedure will be accepted by the CTU until 30 September.
