Telefónica has launched its commercial LTE network in the Czech Republic using the 1800 MHz spectrum band. LTE services are available in and around Jesenice, as well as in the OC Chodov shopping mall in Prague. The new network supports peak data download speeds of up to 60 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 25 Mbps. LTE price plans start at CZK333 (US$16) per month. LTE network equipment was supplied by Huawei.

Telefónica is launching the LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G mobile communication network today, as the first operator in the Czech Republic. Starting today, the operator is also offering commercial LTE services to its customers. The new network offers the fastest mobile Internet today to people. LTE supports data transmissions as much as ten times faster than the 3G technology.

"We will offer our customer real users data download speed of up to 60 Mbps and upload speed of up to 25 Mbps, with network ping around 20 ms. These are no laboratory conditions, but real speeds that we measured in the location," says Martin Škop, Telefónica Czech Republic's director for technologies and network planning.

"Back in 1991 we introduced mobile communication to the Czech Republic. In 1996 we brought the second generation digital system - GSM. In 2004 we launched the CDMA data network, which is a 3G network, and a year later we were again the first operator in the Czech Republic to start the UMTS network. Now we are coming with the LTE 4G mobile communication network. O2 has been the leader of the Czech mobile communication for 21 years and we intend to remain at the front," said Jiří Dvorjačanský, Telefónica's Director, Marketing Division, upon the commercial launch of LTE. Telefónica has brought four generations of mobile communications systems to the Czech Republic and is a five-time leader among operators in new technology launch.

O2's LTE network covers the municipality of Jesenice (district Prague-West) and its surroundings, with the total population of almost 10,000. LTE signal is also available in approximately half of the Chodov shopping mall in Prague, where the biggest and most modern O2 Experience Centre store is based. Telefónica used so-called network neutrality for the LTE launch and runs the LTE network at the frequency of 1,800 MHz, with the bandwidth of 2 x 10 MHz. The LTE technology was supplied by the firm Huawei.

From June 19, 2012, first customers may buy one of the two devices with LTE support with a SIM card, in order to be able to fully use the benefits offered by the technology. O2 offers three LTE Mobile Internet tariffs, starting at CZK 333 per month. Models may be rented for CZK 1, with a refundable deposit of CZK 1,000.
More details on modems and prices can be found here.

Those interested may try out O2's LTE Mobile Internet and/or subscribe to the service in so-called Future Zone - O2'smobile sales stand, which will be available directly in Jesenice on the following days:

22.6. Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Albert Jesenice
27.6. Wednesday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Albert Jesenice
29.6. Friday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Albert Vestec
30.6. Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Albert Vestec

The devices and services may also be tested or purchased at all times at the O2 Experience Centre in the Chodov shopping mall in Prague. The O2 Experience Centre is opened daily from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Trained O2 Gurus are available and will be happy to present the LTE Mobile Internet and its benefits to the customers. You may book the time of one of the O2 Gurus here.

About Telefónica Czech Republic

Telefónica Czech Republic is a major integrated operator in the Czech Republic. It is now operating almost seven million lines, both fixed and mobile, making it one of the world’s leading providers of fully converged services. The organization offers the most comprehensive portfolio of voice and data services in this country. It is paying special attention to the exploitation of the growth potential, particularly in the data and Internet sector. Telefónica Czech Republic operates the largest fixed and mobile network including a 3rd generation network, CDMA (for data), and UMTS, enabling voice, data and video transmission. Telefónica Czech Republic is also a notable provider of ICT services.

About Telefónica

Telefónica is one of the world’s largest telecommunications operators by market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses, while its broadband business is the key growth driver underpinning both. It operates in 25 countries and has a global customer base of almost 300 million. Telefónica’s growth strategy is focused on the markets in which it has a strong foothold: Spain, Europe and Latin America. Telefónica is a 100% private sector company with its shares listed in Madrid and other stock exchanges and more than 1.5 million individual shareholders.