O2 has received the regulatory green light for an extension to the terms of some of its spectrum licences in the Czech Republic.
The firm, which operates under the O2 brand despite having been sold off by former parent Telefonica last year, got the go-ahead from the Czech Telecommunication Office for a multi-year extension to spectrum licences that were due to expire in February.
The regulator granted O2 the right to use spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands for the period from 8 February 2016 to 22 October 2024.
O2 agreed to pay 432 million koruna (€16 million) for the extension.
The Czech Republic’s major mobile operators, O2 included, last augmented their spectrum allocations in late 2013, when the state auctioned off frequencies in the 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands.
O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone together spent CZK8.53 billion (€315 million), of which CZK7.28 billion went on 800-MHz spectrum.
O2’s share of the overall bill came in at CZK2.80 billion, less than Vodafone’s CZK3.11 billion, but slightly more than T-Mobile’s CZK2.61 billion.
