MONITORING REPORT 07/2024: CTU Council at full strength; protection of minors on the internet according to the DSA; renewed block allocations in the bands 900 and 1800 MHz

Prague, 23 July 2024 - In the July monitoring report we introduce the new composition of the CTU Council, we also focus on specific provisions of the Digital Services Act strengthening the protection of minors on the internet, and in the article on the renewal of frequency block allocations for O2 and T-Mobile in the bands 900 and 1800 MHz we provide information for municipalities applying for inclusion in the list of municipalities with insufficient mobile signal coverage.

CTU Council is complete again. On 10 July, the Czech government appointed the two missing members of the Council. Marek Vrbík, who worked in the past e.g. in the military intelligence and also had experience as a member of the remonstrance commission of the CTU, became the new member of the Council for the next 5 years. Lukáš Zelený, an expert in the consumer protection, has already held this position since 2019, so the Government appointed him for a second five-year term, in which he plans to focus primarily on the implementation of new digital agendas in the environment of the Office. More in a separate press release.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) strengthens the protection of minors online. The new rules include a prohibition of targeted advertising to children, the introduction of safety measures and an effective age verification system, which will contribute to a safer online environment for young users.

In view of the approaching expiry of the radio frequency block allocations of O2 Czech Republic a.s. and T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. in the bands 900 and 1800 MHz, the CTU Council Chairman decided, on the basis of the conclusions of the review and repeated public consultation, including consultation of the expert valuation, to issue new radio frequency block allocations in these frequency bands to both companies in accordance with the procedure under Section 20(7) of the Electronic Communications Act.

Tereza Meravá
Spokesperson
Czech Telecommunication Office