Number management

Notice

CTU notes that with effect from 1 January 2022 several changes in the number management have been made according to the amendment to the Electronic Communications Act. The most important changes are listed below:

• Authorisation for the use of numbers of special economic value is newly granted pursuant to Section 31 of the Electronic Communications Act and the Measure of General Nature No. OOP/20/11.2021-13 laying down the conditions for granting authorisations for the use of numbers of special economic value. This measure of general nature sets out the numbers of special economic value for which the authorisation to use is now granted based on a tender procedure, and the numbers, for which the authorisation is granted on the basis of the order in which applications are received, as before. CTU shall launch a tender procedure when it receives an application for the allocation of one or more of the following numbers from the range:
  •  short numbers (short codes) 116000 up to 116111 (European harmonised numbers), 116113 up to 116999 (European harmonised numbers) and 1180 up to 1189 (Information about national and international numbers of subscribers and other relevant information);
  • short numbers 1200 up to 1240 (Services for disabled persons, social and health services, emergency services);
  • short numbers for the access to the services with the SAC=16 code;
  • short numbers for the access to the services with the SAC=19 code;
  • numbers for the access to direct calls from abroad to the home country (Home Country Direct) according to the ITU Recommendation E.153.
• Procedure for conducting the tender and granting authorisation is regulated by the above-mentioned Measure of General Nature and Section 146 of Act No. 500/2004 Coll. (Administrative Procedure Code)
• According to Section 32(5) of Electronic Communications Act, CTU is now empowered to decide ex officio on granting authorisation for the use of number ranges in case the authorisation for the use of numbers related to a number range containing ported numbers and there has been no change of authorisation holder based on a commercial agreement, nor an application for granting authorisation for the use of numbers in question has been submitted. CTU shall decide on granting authorisation for the use of the number range concerned to one of the undertakings providing publicly available electronic communications services on numbers in that number range. CTU shall consider, in particular, the potential impact on end users, the economic position of undertakings providing publicly available electronic communications services on numbers in the number range in question and the interest in ensuring efficient use of numbers.
• The above-mentioned powers of CTU in the matter of deciding on the allocation of a range where one or more numbers have been ported and there is a service provided on them, also entails a new obligation for the holder of authorisation for the use of these numbers or its legal successor. Pursuant to Article 36(8) of Electronic Communications Act, this holder is required to inform the undertaking providing publicly available electronic communications services and using the ported numbers, about the expiration date of this authorisation one month before that day at the latest; if not possible, immediately after becoming aware of this fact. This obligation is intended to ensure awareness of valid authorisations and to enable commercial agreements between undertakings prior to regulatory intervention by CTU.
• The transfer of authorisation to a new holder will be simplified this way as it will be implemented as a change of the holder of authorisation for the use of numbers, without any need to obtain prior consent of CTU. This change will take place through granting a new authorisation for the use of numbers under Section 32 based on a joint application by the future holder of authorisation for the use of numbers and the existing holder of the authorisation for the use of numbers. CTU will consider a joint application to be an application made by the existing authorisation holder in the matter of a change leading to grant authorisation to the new holder, and an application made by the prospective new authorisation holder for the same purpose. In accordance with Section 30(11), authorisation for the use of numbers of existing holder shall expire on the date when the new authorisation for the use of numbers enters into legal force. Both applications will therefore be settled by issuing a decision on granting authorisation to the new authorisation holder and communication on expiry to the former authorisation holder.

A. General information

CTU manages numbers for electronic communication networks and services using a numbering plan in order to ensure the administration and purposeful use of numbers, sequences and codes, addresses and names (except Internet addresses) (hereinafter referred to as “numbers”). The numbers from numbering plans may only be used on the basis of authorisation for the use of numbers. The authorisation for the use of numbers is governed by:

1. Electronic Communications Act, Section 30 and Section 32 of which lay down the principles for the granting of authorisation for the use of numbers and Section 36 of which the principles for changing, prolonging, withdrawing and the expiration of validity of authorisation for the use of numbers.
2. Decree No. 117/2007 Coll. on numbering plans for electronic communication networks and services, as amended 
3. Government Regulation No. 154/2005 Coll., on determining the amount and method of calculating charges for using radio frequencies and numbers, as amended, the obligations arising from membership held by the Czech Republic in international organisations (European Commission decisions, CEPT and ITU recommendations, ETSI standards).

The numbers according to numbering plans may only be used on the basis of authorisation for the use of numbers. Based on an application submitted to CTU, CTU decides on granting an authorisation for the use of numbers to any undertaking providing a public communication network or providing a publicly available electronic communication service according to general authorisation or using such network or service in accordance with the terms and conditions ensuring the purposeful use of numbers. In the case of authorisation for the use of numbers connected to non-private communication networks or short numbers (short codes), CTU is also authorised to grant such authorisation to a legal person that is not an undertaking according to the first sentence. In the cases of European harmonised numbers, CTU decides on granting authorisation to undertakings which provide a public communication network or provide a publicly available electronic communication service, or to a legal person not undertaking a business whose activity corresponds to the purpose for which these numbers are reserved. CTU also decides about withdrawing, changing or prolonging the authorisation for the use of numbers.

The CTU charges fees for the use of numbers pursuant to Section 37 of the Electronic Communications Act. The amount and method of calculating the fees for the use of numbers are set out in Government Regulation No 154/2005 Coll., as amended, and in its application the fees are specified in the authorisation decision. The fees for the right to use numbers shall be paid into the CTU's revenue account No. 19-4422091/0710, held at the CNB, Prague branch. The fees for the rights arising from the authorisation for the use of numbers for a pro rata part of the year are payable within 15 days from the date of entry into legal force of the authorisation for the use of numbers, and the annual fees are payable on 31 January of each year for the duration of the relevant authorisation.

B. How to submit an application for granting an authorisation to use numbers

An application for the granting of authorisation for the use of numbers must comprise:

1. if the applicant is:

   1. a legal person undertaking business,
      trade name, address of registered office, Company Registration Number, if assigned, first name or names, surname and place of residence of person authorised to act on behalf of this legal person, or alternatively address of registered office of subdivision in the Czech Republic and Company Registration Number, if assigned;

   2. a natural person undertaking business,
      first name or names, surname, or trade name, residence, address of place of business or address of registered office of division in the Czech Republic, and Company Registration Number, if assigned, or alternatively name and address of registered office of subdivision in the Czech Republic and Company Registration Number, if assigned;

   3. a legal person not undertaking business,
      name, address of registered office and Company Registration Number, if assigned,

2. information about the numbers which are requested and the purpose of their use,
3. the requested period of using numbers.

An application for the authorisation for the use of numbers must be substantiated with a copy of a contract or deed or establishment or foundation of a legal person for persons not already entered in the Commercial Register.

The same form is used to apply for a change, prolong the period of validity or withdraw authorisation for the use of numbers. An application for the prolongation of the period of validity of authorisation for the use of numbers must be delivered to CTU not later than one month before the date of expiration of its validity.

An application for the authorisation (change, prolongation of period of validity, withdrawal) for the use of numbers and the transfer of authorisation for the use of numbers to another undertaking is sent to the address specified here.

CTU collects administrative fees according to Act No. 634/2004 Coll. on administrative fees, as amended, for the issue of a decision on authorisation for the use of numbers.  Administrative fee for granting authorisation for the use of numbers is CZK 5,000, for prolonging the period of validity of or making a change to authorisation for the use of numbers the administrative fee is CZK 500. No administrative fee is charged for the issue of a decision to withdraw authorisation for the use of numbers. Administrative fees are usually paid into the administrative fees account, account number 3711-4422091/0710, held at the Czech National Bank, Prague branch, under a specific payment identification code (“variabilní symbol”) determined by CTU after receiving the application from the applicant. Administrative fees are also not charged for the issue of decision on authorisation pursuant to Section 32 (5), this is an ex officio decision, not an application.

If you have any questions, you can call the following Office telephone numbers, Division for Regulating Communication Activities and Postal Services, Department of Administration of Numbers:

• 224 004 741 – number allocation,
• 224 004 776 – the administration of fees for utilisation of numbers.

Assigned numbers and codes can be found in the search database.