Czech regulator plans 5G auction in November

Czech regulator CTU plans to start the 5G auction for frequencies in the bands 700 MHz and 3.4 GHz in November, reports Patria.cz. The regulator would like to attract a fourth player to the market.

CTU is in the final stage of completing the auction rules and has sent the auction timetable to the government, which will discuss it during March. In April, a public consultation will start.

The auction will be successful if it manages to attract a fourth mobile operator to compete with the current big three MNOs, namely O2 Czech Republic, T-Mobile Czech Republic and Vodafone Czech Republic, CTU chairman Jaromir Novak told Reuters.

One block in the band 700 MHz will be reserved for a newcomer. Also, existing MNOs will be obliged to provide national roaming to the new player on condition that it covers 10 percent of the population by itself. The price model and time limits, from five to six years, are still subject to discussion.

Although it was originally speculated the state would not assign the spectrum in an auction at all, but rather build the 5G infrastructure itself, CTU issued updated 5G auction principles in January.

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