COVERAGE OF PRAGUE’S UNDERGROUND IS EXPANDING

Prague, 2 April 2020 – The operators in cooperation with the Prague City Hall, Prague Public Transit Company (Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy) and CETIN have been working intensively even at these times too to expand the coverage of Prague’s underground with the high-speed mobile LTE network. The operators have now launched the test operation in the Křižíkova – Invalidovna section of the B line and are continuing to roll out the coverage in additional sections of the A and B lines. In the coming weeks, they are planning to cover one of the busiest sections of the A line between Můstek and Muzeum stations. By the end of June, the LTE network should be expanded to cover also the Staroměstská – Dejvická, Florenc B – Českomoravská and Smíchovské nádraží – Anděl sections.

Passengers can currently use mobile services in the LTE standard in 18 stations and adjacent tunnels in the Bořislavka – Motol Hospital section (four stations) on the A line, the Nádraží Holešovice – Roztyly section on the C line (12 stations), and newly also in the Křižíkova – Invalidovna section (two stations).

Unfortunately, due to very slow building permit procedure, the original plan of covering an additional 16 stations and adjacent tunnels by the end of March 2020 could not be met. Moreover, the current state of emergency also affects underground technical work, as workers are required to observe the prescribed rules also while working underground and construction companies have to deal with a higher sickness rate. Yet, all parties involved firmly believe that another 11 stations and tunnels between them will be covered by the end of summer this year. This will complete the coverage of the underground stations in the greater centre of the Czech capital, which are among the most difficult to cover in terms of the rollout works.

Interesting facts

At their own cost. The consortium of operators (O₂ Czech Republic, T-Mobile Czech Republic and Vodafone Czech Republic) and CETIN are covering Prague’s underground with LTE technology at their own cost, with T-Mobile Czech Republic coordinating the rollout project. The average cost of covering a section between two stations is CZK 10 million, depending on the length of such section.

It’s a long way. The longest and the shortest sections between two stations of Prague’s underground are on the C line. The longest distance (2,748 m) is between Nádraží Holešovice train station and Kobylisy, where even an inspection cannot be completed in one night but it must be divided in two nights. On the other hand, the shortest section (425 m) is between Muzeum C and Hlavní nádraží main train station.

Only at night. LTE network rollout in the underground can only be performed at night, in a short span of less than three hours when there is no underground service. The rollout needs to be coordinated with the pending renovation of certain stations and tunnels, which takes priority and during which the LTE network cannot be deployed. Seventy technicians work in the underground each night; fifty hours are needed to install and assemble the LTE network at one station (plus hours of preparations before technicians can enter the tunnel). It takes two months to cover the tunnel between two stations in both directions.

Line D: The contract with Prague Public Transit Company signed in 2018 envisages the coverage of both the existing lines and new stations and sections if Prague’s underground is expanded. In such a case, operators can ask that the servitude should be expanded to include also the newly built stations and tunnels. All the parties involved are now coordinating further steps so that coverage of the planned D line is rolled out along with its construction.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.