PRESS RELEASE: Vodafone's block allocation renewed, all three operators will now have coverage obligations

Prague, 27 March 2025 - On the basis of a request from Vodafone Czech Republic a.s. for renewal of the block allocation in the 900 and 1800 MHz bands, CTU Council Chairman has decided to issue a new radio frequency block allocation in the above mentioned frequency bands to Vodafone in accordance with the procedure under Section 20(7) of the Electronic Communications Act, based on the conclusions of the review and public consultation, including consultation of the expert valuation. The decision imposed obligations on Vodafone, inter alia, to cover the so-called white areas and to further improve the quality of mobile signal on railway corridors, similar to those imposed on O2 and T-Mobile.

Vodafone has been required to cover at least 200 white areas (basic residential units) separately by 2030 at the latest, where coverage must be improved by putting into operation a new base station (site). At the same time, it is obliged to cover at least 300 additional white areas where it can use and share passive infrastructure with other block allocation holders for the purpose of coverage.

For the purpose of selecting white areas to meet the specified coverage obligation, CTU has specified a basic list for all mobile operators directly in the decision on the granting of radio frequency block allocation. In addition to this, CTU has published a supplementary list (the so-called open list) to which it will gradually add additional municipalities/basic residential units for which, after carrying out the relevant verification measurements, the actual poor quality of mobile signal coverage is confirmed. 

As in the case of the renewal of the O2 and T-Mobile block allocations, CTU has also imposed the same obligations on Vodafone to improve the quality of mobile signal of 5G networks on transit railway corridors.

Tereza Meravá
Spokesperson
Czech Telecommunication Office