5G network in the Czech Republic (INFORMATION): speed, coverage and risks - CONTENTS

1. (March 4 2021) Operators will start shutting down 3G networks, while 5G is starting to expand
2. (January 1 2021) Operators have been allocated 5G network frequencies, networks are expanding more slowly in Europe
3. (December 21 2020) The year 2021 will bring even more possibilities of using 5G and cheaper devices will are coming to the market
4. (November 18 2020) All major operators already support 5G, competition will probably not increase
5. (September 28 2020) The Czechia will not receive high 5G frequencies and Vodafone is launching network support
6. (August 16 2020) The University of Ostrava is preparing for 5G and the CTU has launched a selection procedure
7. (June 30 2020) The O2 operator is the first to launch 5G in Prague and Kolín
8. (May 13 2020) Operators do not like that they should let their competitors into their networks
9. (January 31 2020) The resignation of the head of the CTU will delay the 5G auction
10. (January 10 2020) CES 2020: 5G is aimed heading into laptops, cheaper mobile phones and cars
11. (December 31 2019) We know smart cities where 5G will be tested
12. (November 17 2019)The ČTÚ issued a schedule for the 5G auction
13. (August 20 2019) The Ministry of Industry is looking for five test cities for 5G networks
14. (July 4 2019) Zajímavé testy 5G technologie v ČR
15. What is 5G mobile network?
16. Comparison 5G vs. 4G and older mobile networks
17. What is the situation like with the 5G network in the Czech Republic?
18. 5G network frequencies
19. 5G networks: Will Huawei build the infrastructure?
20. 5G network: Risks and health
21. 5G network: Coverage map in the Czech Republic
22. The first mobiles with 5G support

(March 4 2021) Operators will start shutting down 3G networks, while 5G is starting to expand

Technical progress is moving forward, and the arrival of 5G networks is linked to the departure of older technology. The 3G network has been with us for more than 15 years and now is the time to end its activity. Both the LTE network and, of course, the latest 5G will continue to operate on its frequencies. However, people with older phones that do not have LTE reception yet do not have to worry about their device becoming a broken toy. Calls and text messages run through the GSM network.

However, those who want to enjoy new wave of the future of Internet and start using a lightning-fast connection, have so much to look forward to after purchasing 5G phone. So far, it has not been easy to find a location with the reception of new technology, but operators are gradually trying to meet the needs of customers. Vodafone has announced the launch of transmitters for 5G reception in many other locations and smaller municipalities. Whether this also applies to your city, can be verified on the coverage map.

The current situation, in which the whole world is paralyzed, it is helpful to speed up the introduction of new mobile internet network. People are locked at home, using the internet for home office and online school education. So it is certainly good news that more and more people can rely on receiving faster and more stable internet. Additionally, it should also be mentioned that more affordable devices capable of receiving 5G networks are being developed.

(January 31 2021) Operators have been allocated 5G network frequencies, networks are expanding more slowly in Europe

The individual Czech operators were allocated frequencies for the operation of 5G networks, which they won in the auction at the end of 2020. We have already mentioned the winners in previous update, for repetition it is three big companies T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2, that were joined by Nordic Telecom 5G a.s. and CentroNet, a.s. Which frequencies will belong to whom is indicated in a clear table published together with a text message by the Czech Telecommunication Office.

Web Financial Times (ft.com) brought information that Europe is lagging behind the United States in receiving the fastest 5G mobile Internet. The range of 5G reception also has a direct impact on the modernization of various production halls or medical centers. At the end of September, 24% of Europeans could join 5G networks, 76% in America. The best situation is in Asia, where, according to the survey, 93% of the population can connect to the latest networks today.

(December 21 2020) Year 2021 will bring even more possibilities to use 5G and cheaper devices will come to the market

Year 2020 was supposed to be the year, when the latest mobile data transfer technology was launched massively. However, the global pandemic has paralyzed several areas and has not avoided the world of technology. However, a larger increase in 5G networks is expected next year. 

Czech operators are testing the network and slowly expanding the coverage of our republic. It is already possible to buy 5G smartphone, but mobile devices capable of receiving 5G will soon begin to starting prices into the lower ranges. The possibilities of using networks will also expand. New technology will help save lives in medicine during remote operations and the use of 5G can also be found in the entertainment area.

Since 2021, T-Mobile has been planning to promote 5G technology in drone races - the Drone Racing League series, while the technology will enable the flash transfer of images from the drone to the driver' s glasses. The response of an image transmission at the speeds at which the drones move is crucial to success. Thanks to the transition from an analog connection to 5G networks, the possibility of live streaming of the image from the drone to online viewers also opens up. It is therefore an interesting example of how the benefits of new networks can be shown to the public in practice.

(November 18 2020)All major operators already support 5G, competition will probably not increase

All thre big Czech operators already have support for 5G networks. T-Mobile was the last one to enter the game and on its webpage, dedicated to new data transfer technology, promises a real download speed of up to 500 Mb/s. 5G networks run on the same frequencies as 3G and LTE. The first places covered by 5G reception in the T-Mobile network are the wider center of Prague and Brno, and users will also receive reception at selected Prague metro stations.

We will expecting a promising situation on the Czech mobile network scene, because of the arrival of a fourth operator who could shuffle the cards. At least not in the near future. The frequencies of the expected auction were auctioned by a total of 5 bidders. The 700 Hz band will be divided between the three main operators, and the 3.4 to 3.6 GHz bands will be shared together with Nordic Telecom and CentroNet. Although the Nordic Telecom announced that they will bring mobile services in addition to the Internet, significant pressure on current operators is not expected.

(September 28 2020) The Czechia will not receive high 5G frequencies and Vodafone is launching network support

At first, the news is not very pleasing. According to the decision of the European Commission, we will not receive such high-quality reception of 5G networks in our country, and the network may not even have sufficient capacity for all devices. For the Czech Republic, the smallest frequency blocks with a frequency of only 60 MHz were assigned. The European Commission made sure that there is a minimum bandwidth of 80-100 MHz, which would ensure sufficient quality and reliable transmission for the new technology. Other countries in Europe will not have a problem with this, as they will meet the higher requirement.

Already on October 1, another of the three largest Czech operators, Vodafone, is launching a pilot operation of its 5G network. It is launching an ultra-fast connection in five Czech cities - Karlovy Vary, Ústí nad Labem, Jeseník, Brno and Prague. The 5G network will run in non-standalone mode (NSA) and in the first phase will use the frequency of the current LTE 1,800 MHz in a 40 MHz block. Only then the 2,100 MHz, 15 MHz block will be available once the 3G networks are switched off at the end of March 2021.

Vodafone simulated the use of fast data transfer in Karlovy Vary at the beginning of September, where in the new version of the Rescue application it is possible to stream the scene of an accident to rescuers in real time before the ambulance arrives. The network will also facilitate the transmission of high-quality 4K content with lower latency, such as from sports matches.

(August 16 2020) The University of Ostrava is preparing for 5G and ČTÚ has launched a selection procedure

While O2 has already launched the initial phase of operation of 5G networks in several locations in the country, T-Mobile is partly at stake in cooperation with the University of Ostrava. The operator, together with VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, participated in the construction of a private campus network. It was launched together at the beginning of July, but for the time being it is operated on frequencies for 4G. The university has already requested the allocation of 5G test frequencies.

At the beginning of August, the Czech Telecommunication Office launched a tender for the distribution of radio frequencies in the 700 and 3,400-3,600 MHz bands. The distribution will take place through an electronic auction, which we should see in the autumn. Bidders can apply until the end of September and the CTU will then invite those who meet the conditions of the tender to the auction. However, our operators do not like the conditions of the tender.

The conditions of the auction have been changed and according to the latest comments, there should be an easier entry into the market for the 4th operator. This step brings in new competition and downward pressure on mobile data prices. End-users should therefore benefit from this. Operators do not particularly like the conditions for national roaming. They allegedly violate European Union regulations. Due to these ambiguities, Vodafone does not rule out that the auction will not take place in the end and will be completely canceled. T-Mobile and O2 are taking the time to study all the conditions and will not comment on them for the time being.

(30 June 2020) The domestic operator O2 becomes the first operator to offer a 5G network in our territory for standard use. This is not a trial period, in short, from July we will be able to enjoy the support of this technology, for the time being for data use only. O2 states on its own web that as of July 1 customers with supported phone can activate the Fastest 5G internet service in the My O2 self-service. The fee is a symbolic CZK 1.

For now, Vinohrady, Pankrác, Vršovice and Nusle in Prague are covered. You can see the coverage plan in the picture below. There are already more supported phones with 5G functionality on the market, e. g. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. The operator further states that the connection can be realized through the existing SIM with support for 4G LTE networks, but in the future there will be a transition to 5G SIM, the so-called ISIM.

(May 13 2020) Operators do not like that they should let competition into their networks

Large operator companies objected to an order from the Czech Telecommunication Office, which talks about interventions in the networks of operators by other companies. Specifically, these companies could acquire frequencies in the next auction. This also applies to those who have already auctioned frequencies in 2017.

According to Czech operators, this is a violation of the law and they are ready to consider further legal action. Currently, the upcoming auction is still on hold. The state promises new competition, which could result in pressure to reduce the prices of the existing trio.

(January 31 2020) The resignation of the head of the ČTÚ will delay the 5G auction

The Chairman of the Czech Telecommunication Office, Jaromír Novák, announced his resignation due to the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to change the conditions of the frequency auction for 5G mobile networks. Hana Továrková, a lawyer, was subsequently appointed to lead the telecommunications regulator. According to Minister Havlíček, the preparation of the auction itself showed non-standard elements and only one Czech bidder would apply. The government wants to change the conditions of the auction. What does it mean? In reality, certainly a delay of several months. At the moment, the announcement of the auction in June 2020 is expected.

(January 10 2020) CES 2020: 5G heads to notebooks, cheaper smartphones and cars

The innovative consumer electronics trade fair CES has shown the direction that 5G will take on the consumer side. For example, a company Dell thinks, that artificial intelligence, 5G connection and a thoughtful design helps lead an easier and happier life. A laptop Latitude 9510 was introduced.

It is the smallest and lightest commercial 15-inch laptop in the world, which easily fits into a small briefcase. The larger display, along with wireless WiFi over Intel WiFi 6 and support for 5G mobile networks, allows managers to be more productive wherever they need to be. The 5G antennas are integrated into the speakers to maintain an InfinityEdge display with minimal margins. The Latitude 9510 will be available in a variety of configurations, including 10th generation Intel Core i7 processors. The expected endurance is basically up to 17 hours. However, it will still be possible to add an expansion battery, which will provide up to 30 hours when working on the battery.

Qualcomm will soon begin mass production of the affordable Snapdragon 765 mobile chip, which includes a 5G modem. This situation helps brands, such as TCL, whose Model 10 will offer 5G connectivity at a price of