The Czech Telecommunications Office has announced a tender for DAB+ networks. The document with the full title “Announcement of the tender procedure for the purpose of granting rights to use radio frequencies for the provision of electronic communications networks for the provision of terrestrial digital radio broadcasting and mobile multimedia applications in the frequency band 174–230 MHz” can be found here.
Applicants may submit applications for the allocations until Aug. 31, 2023. The tender requires a cash guarantee by the same deadline. The auction itself is scheduled to take place in October.
“The frequency band for FM broadcasting is almost full; this new platform will allow new programming players to enter the market,” said Marek Ebert, Chairman of the CTU. “After several years of intensive work, the frequency band for DAB has been coordinated during 2022 and can be used. In addition to the already successfully running digital broadcasting of Czech Radio, we will thus also enable the development of commercial DAB networks”.
The tender sets out development criteria that should ensure the successful development of DAB broadcasting and the efficient use of the allocated radio frequencies. The CTU expects the nationwide networks to cover 50% of the population and motorways within 18 months and 80% of the population and motorways within a further 12 months. It has been mandatory for all new cars sold in Czechia to include a DAB receiver for several years.
Regional broadcasts are to cover 40% of the region’s population within 24 months and 70% of the region’s population thereafter.
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