On 7 August 2020, the Czech regulator CTU published the call for tenders for the 5G auction. The regulator will distribute the spectrum in the bands 700 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz. The bidders can apply until 30 September 2020.
700 MHz
In the 700 MHz band, the regulator offers in total 2×30 MHz in the ranges 703-733 MHz and 758-788 MHz. CTU would like to see at least one new entrant, therefore one abstract block of 2×10 MHz (block A1) is reserved for a new operator, i. e. none of the existing three MNOs (O2 Czech Republic, Vodafone Czech Republic and T-Mobile Czech Republic).
The rest of the band comprises two blocks of 2×5 MHz (A2) and one block of 2×10 MHz (A3). The latter will, in particular, serve to coverage of white spot areas and its winners will undertake to offer national roaming.
The spectrum cap is 2×10 MHz, increasable to 2×20 MHz.
3.5 GHz
In the band 3400-3600 MHz, CTU offers in total ten unpaired blocks of 20 MHz each (offered as two blocks B1 and eight blocks B2). Two of them (B1) shall serve for the purposes of Industry 4.0.
Aiming to promote competition, the regulator set a spectrum cap in the band – 60 MHz for established MNOs and 100 MHz for new entrants. At the same time, a successful bidder shall gain at least 40 MHz of the spectrum in the band.
Reserve prices
CTU will offer the blocks in a simultaneous multi-round auction (SMRA) for the following reserve prices:
| Block | Reserve price (in million CZK) |
| A1 | 1,400 |
| A2 | 700 |
| A3 | 1,120 |
| B1 | 110 |
| B2 | 140 |
The price increment will be fixed at 5% of the reserve price of the respective block category in the 700 MHz band and 10% in the 3400-3600 MHz band.
The licences will be valid until 30 June 2036 for the 700 MHz band and until 30 June 2032 for the 3.5 GHz band.
Image copyright: Adobe Stock | Curioso.Photography