Czech Republic

Last update: 15.05.2020 - older versions

Detailed and up-to-date DAB+ coverage maps can be found at www.DAB-plus.cz.

Czech Radio has one regular multiplex in Prague. Three other multiplexes are on air in the Czech Republic and are operated by TELEKO, Ceske Radiokomunikace and RTI.

Network operator TELEKO operates one regular local DAB/DAB+ multiplex using band III and L- Band, which reaches 5.8 million inhabitants of the Czech Republic. The signal broadcasts in Prague and the surrounding area, in Příbram, Brno and the surrounding region, the Moravia-Silesian region, the Usti nad Labem region and Hradec Kralove region. 15 radio stations are being broadcast on the TELEKO multiplex.

Network operator RTI CZ operates 60 radio transmitters in the FM band, predominantly in Western Bohemia. In 2011 RTI CZ obtained a license for Digital Radio DAB (L Band) in the Pilsenregion, Carlsbad region, South Bohemian region and inPrague city. RTI cz provides DAB broadcasting in West and South Bohemia.

Population coverage currently stands at 85%. Czech Radio is preparing to launch several new DAB+ transmitters towards the end of 2020 - likely to be September - which is set to increase population coverage from 85% to 95%.

Last update: 13.05.2020 - older versions

In this country there are

• Regional multiplexes: 2 Regular
• Local multiplexes: 3 Regular

A comprehensive listing of DAB+ services on air in the Czech Republic is available at the website http://www.digitalradiodab.cz/ by choosing the DAB v ČR option.

Slideshow services are offered by all network operators in Czech Republic. TELEKO uses the latest Rapid software in their DAB CLOUD MULTIPLEXOR. TELEKO transforms the news from RSS feeds into JPEGs and also sends pictures from webcams in studios or weathercams.

Last update: 07.08.2015 - older versions

DAB receivers are available as an option in major car brands such as Škoda, VW, Audi, Seat, Mini, BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Toyota, Volvo and Opel.

-     Carmaker Škoda sold in 2014 - 2500 pieces of car radios with DAB+.

-     Car audio system DAB+ still requires a surcharge in the Czech Republic.

Last update: 14.04.2020 - older versions

DAB radio is using L-band and Band III in the Czech Republic and it is important to check if the receiver is ready for use in both bands.

A wide range of receivers are available to buy online:

www.pureradio.cz

www.radiodab.cz

www.omko.cz/digitalni-radia/

www.conrad.cz

www.alza.cz

www.czc.cz

www.mall.cz

Stores:

Electroworld (www.electroworld.cz)

LIDL (www.lidl.cz) (Sale)

TESCO (www.itesco.cz)

Last update: 30.09.2013 - older versions

In August 2007 a trial was launched by TELEKO in cooperation with the public broadcaster Český Rozhlas with three DAB programmes and two DAB+ programmes. This trial used both Band III and L-Band and covered almost 130,000 people. A further trial began in June 2008, again as a joint project between the TELEKO company in cooperation with the public broadcaster Czech Radio. A 2.5Kw transmitter provided coverage of the capital city, Prague, to a population of around 1.3 million. The goal of this noncommercial trial was the promotion of digital radio to the Czech public and Government administrators. In early 2009 a further trial was launched in the second largest city Brno covering approximately 0.5 million people.

Trials have been completed in the Czech Republic and all network operators have been awarded with licenses. Technical trials e.g. for checking signal parameters are operated using the licensed frequencies as a part of the regular transmission implementation. For example, the company Ceske Radiokomunikace is using its L-band licensed frequency for such a test with two programs using the Prague-Zizkov transmitter since early 2013.

Last update: 25.06.2018 - older versions

Key features of regulation for digital radio in Czech Republic are:

• L-Band used
• Three network operators operate a number of regional or city multiplexes with public and commercial programs
• Licenses valid for 10 years (till 2022/2023), but all interested in Band III when free
• No analogue radio switch-off date
• Analogue radio licenses are prolonged till 2025 when commitment to switch over to digital is signed by the license holder
• Current network operators will ask for transformation of L-Band licenses to the Band III

Spectrum and content regulation is divided between the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (content) and the Czech Telecommunication Office (spectrum). 

Each analogue radio license holder which signed the commitment to switch over to digital broadcasting received prolonged analogue license till 2025. Consequently 2025 could be understood as the analogue radio switch off date. There are no obstacles from the content regulator to start digital broadcasting and it has already started.

Spectrum regulator the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) has declared that their office will be technology neutral with regard to the DAB audio codec (DAB or DAB+). Licensing was focused on the L-Band which was free and implementation in Band III was waiting for the end of analogue TV transmission in the band (June 2012).

The Radio Spectrum Utilisation Plan (RSUP) for particular bands sets the detailed regulation for use of the frequencies. This part of RSUP is from 2008 and it is still valid. The regulatory body Czech Telecommunication Office is preparing the strategy for Band III and the selection procedure is expected to be launched in 2013.

Band III: According to NTFA Band III is allocated to broadcasting as a primary service and to land mobile as a secondary service. Wireless microphones are used in land mobile service only. The switch over to digital TV was finished end of June 2012 and Band III is ready for digital broadcasting, and is planned for T-DAB and DVB-T in accordance with Geneva 2006 Agreement.

L Band: A tender for 10 year licenses in the 13 largest cities for operation was started on 6 May 2011. Licenses were granted during the September – November period and the company Ceske Radiokomunikace received in total 12 licenses and the company RTI cz s.r.o. one for Prague. All licenses will expire in 2021. Individual authorisations for TELEKO in Block LA were awarded for five years with right to extend. 

The main document for electronic communication regulation is the Act. No. 127/2005 Coll. On Electronic Communications. This document explains spectrum regulation in the Czech Republic and is the National Table of Frequency Allocation (NTFA) which allocates the frequency bands to particular radio communication services and describes the general conditions for frequency use. 

Band III: According to NTFA Band III is allocated to broadcasting as a primary service and to land mobile as a secondary service.

Last update: 29.04.2019 - older versions

A marketing campaign is due to be launched, in collaboration with the automotive industry - primarily Skoda - and the main retailers in the country

Broadcasters are investing inmultimedia, with each of the 14 channels in a mux equipped with full multimedia services - headlines, artists information and images

The company RTI cz also promotes DAB+ open days in the Czech Radio, as per the images below taken in Prague, Pilsen and Ceske Budejovice.

The company RTI cz operates its own e-shop with a DAB+ receiver (www.radiodab.cz)

The company RTI cz operates a Web portal about digital radio in the Czech Republic on www.digitalradiodab.cz. You will find here:

• Current information
• What is digital radio
• History of digital radio
• DAB in the Czech Republic (operators / list of radio stations / channel list / map coverage)
• DAB in the world
• Links to websites about digital radio

1) Day with digital radio (Exhibition of DAB radio receivers and lectures on digital radio in cooperation with Czech Radio)

www.densdigitalnimradiem.cz (only in Czech) Promo video here: https://youtu.be/WvDdK3xqEMI

2) Digital radio in schools (lectures on digital radio at vocational schools)

3) DAB radio for the blind (RTI have prepared a Czech version of the audio files for the NOXON dRadio1 radio with voice output)

Last update: 09.01.2014

DAB radio is used for emergency warning distribution by distributing programs of the public broadcaster.
For example, during the floods in June 2013 the actual emergency information was included in the DAB radiotext transmission of two public broadcaster programs.