Internet in the Czech Republic

Wireless

Wi-Fi

Because ADSL was very expensive for the average worker in its early days, an enormous number of wireless ISPs (WISPs) (based on 802.11 Wi-Fi technology) came to an existence offering reasonable priced monthly-plans since 2003. By the beginning of 2008, there was over 800 mostly local WISPs that had enormous market share of the internet access. It is estimated Wi-Fi ISPs have about 350 000 subscribers by 2007. The Czech Republic has the most Wi-Fi subscriber in the whole European Union. There are both commercial and community wireless networks. List of wireless networks is here

Mobile

Mobile internet is quite popular. Plans based on either GPRS, EDGE, UMTS or CDMA2000 are being offered by all four mobile phone operators (T-Mobile, Vodafone, Telefonica O2 and U:fon). The average cost for an unlimited mobile internet plan ranges around 25 Euro/month. Various traffic shaping (monthly data limits after which the speed dramatically decreases) are used under common name "Fair Use Policy".

Comparison of mobile data plans

Company	Plan name	Technology	Maximum download speed/kbps	Data limit/GB	Monthly price incl. VAT/CZK	Source
T-Mobile	Internet Basic	4G	512	2/month	474,81	[1]
T-Mobile	Internet Standard	4G	512	5/month	831,81	[2]
T-Mobile	Internet Premium	4G	1024	10/month	400	[3]
Telefónica O2	Mobilní internet	CDMA 450 MHz OR GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA, Wi-Fi	3600	10/month	300, 500, 750, 1000	[4]
Telefónica O2	Mobilní internet plus	CDMA 450 MHz, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, Wi-Fi	3600	none	1000	[5]
Vodafone	Připojení na stálo	GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi	512	none	525 (262,50 first 4 months)	[6]
U:fon	U:fonův fofr internet	CDMA 450 MHz, 3G	300-700	2/week	594 (297 first year)	[7]

Wired

ADSL

In the Czech Republic, ADSL became commercially available at the beginning of 2003, by then-monopoly operator Český Telecom with basic speeds from 192/64 kbit/s to 1024/256 kbit/s. The start-up of ADSL was very slow due to overpriced plans (~€350 per month for 1024/256 kbit). At the beginning of 2004, local loop unbundling began, and alternative operators started to offer ADSL (and also SDSL). This, and later privatisation of Cesky Telecom, helped to drive down prices. On July 1, 2006, Český Telecom was renamed to Telefónica O2 Czech Republic. As of 2009, ADSL2+ is offered in three variants, mostly without with data limits. The speed varies depending on the loop length up to 20 Mbit/s.

The typical ADSL connection offered by Cesky Telecom in the Czech Republic is 8 192/512 kbit/s with no data limits. For short local loops, 16 384/768 kbit/s plan is offered by Cesky Telecom and 20 480/1024 by Radiokomunikace. Speeds, data limits, Fair User Policy (limiting link speed based on amount of transferred data) and overbooking vary per each ISP.

Cable

Cable internet is gaining popularity with its higher download speeds beginning at 1 Mbit/s up to 100 Mbit/s. The biggest ISP, UPC (which has bought another CATV internet provider Karneval in 2007) is providing its service in big cities and attractive locations (Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Liberec, Usti nad Labem, Olomouc, Šumperk)

UPC Prices:

Maximum download/upload speed/kbps	Data limit/GB	Monthly price incl. VAT/CZK	Monthly price incl. VAT/EUR
1024 / 256	none	197	7,50
10 240 / 1024	none	490	19
30 000 / 1536	none	850	33
50 000 / 5 000	none	1 300	50
100 000 / 10 000	none	1 750	67

External links

• Lupa – server dedicated to Internet in the Czech republic (in Czech)