Czech Mobile Prices Soar: Vodafone, O2 & T-Mobile Hikes & What It Means for You

Czech mobile service providers are increasing prices, a trend that has been discussed for over a decade with limited improvement. Compared to other European countries, operators in the Czech Republic are cautious when it comes to lowering prices. A review of offerings both domestically and abroad revealed that the Czech Republic has even fallen behind Poland in affordability. The comparison showed that even in countries with higher purchasing power, mobile tariffs can be less expensive.

Analysis of services offered by multinational companies in the Czech market found that tariffs are cheaper in countries where purchasing power is higher. The comparison indicated that offerings from Czech operators – which some economists describe as a functional oligopoly – are surpassed by Austrian competition, or tariffs with larger data allowances, calls, and SMS included in Germany. This trend highlights the ongoing challenges consumers face in accessing affordable mobile services.

Despite expectations that mobile operators in the Czech Republic would address this price disparity and gradually lower their services, the opposite has occurred.

In 2026, all three major operators decided to raise prices, and have already sent or are sending emails and SMS messages to many customers informing them of the increases. Often, these price hikes come with no additional benefits, leading to a growing sentiment in the Czech Republic that customers are getting less for their money.

“We are part of the critical infrastructure of the Czech Republic,” Vodafone requests more money

The current wave of price increases was initiated by Vodafone, which began raising prices for some customers in early December. These increases, first reflected in January bills, affected tariffs such as Red Basic Lite with 3 GB of data, which increased from 567 CZK to 609 CZK, and Red Basic+ with 10 GB of data, rising from 697 CZK to 747 CZK.

Vodafone explained the price increases by stating that its mobile network “is relied upon by millions of customers,” and is “part of the critical infrastructure of the Czech Republic,” with the company “intensively investing in its speed and security.” Further details were provided on the company’s website.

“Just like other industries, we are facing rising costs. Thanks to innovation and optimization, we have managed to maintain high quality and value of services for you in the past three years. However, higher costs and the aforementioned investments in modernization now require us to adjust the prices of mobile services,” the operator stated in its explanation to customers. However, no data allowance increases were included.

New customers at O2 will pay up to 3,600 CZK more than last year

Vodafone’s move followed a few months after O2 changed tariffs for many users, adding services they didn’t request. Canceling these unwanted services required significant effort from customers and led to numerous complaints. Last year, O2 introduced Oneplay, offering content alongside Voyo’s services, automatically included for customers and added to their bills. Customers who didn’t want the service were unable to reject the change via email, and were directed to a branch or helpline. More information about the tariff changes can be found online.

O2 is now changing tariffs again, a month after Vodafone’s price increase. Unlike last year, existing customers can choose whether or not to activate the new tariffs.

Unlike other operators, O2 is offering some benefits with the price increase, such as increased data allowances or faster speeds, although some users believe these changes are merely cosmetic. The NEO+ Modrý tariff will increase its data limit from 4 GB to 6 GB, and the NEO+ Bronzový tariff will also increase by 2 GB to 14 GB. The speed of the NEO+ Stříbrný tariff will increase from 10 Mb/s to 15 Mb/s, with more significant changes expected for tariffs starting with NEO+ Zlatý, where the speed will increase from 20 Mb/s to 40 Mb/s.

And the prices? The NEO+ Modrý tariff will increase by 30 CZK per month to 629 CZK, and higher tariffs, such as the NEO+ Stříbrný with a speed of 15 Mb/s, will increase by 50 CZK to 999 CZK per month. The promotional offer that discounted some tariffs for the first 12 months has ended, resulting in new customers paying 300 CZK more per month for the first 12 billing cycles, totaling 3,600 CZK per year.

“We are adding what customers really need – more data and faster speeds,” commented Silvia Cieslarová, Director of Mobile Services at O2, adding that the operator is “allowing customers to make even more of the best mobile network in the Czech Republic.”

T-Mobile wants more, gives customers less

T-Mobile is also increasing prices. Unlike O2, existing customers have no choice and are faced with the option of paying or losing mobile service.

This isn’t the first time the operator has tried something similar with Czech customers. Three years ago, the company changed tariffs automatically, often increasing prices by tens of crowns. Customers then had to request a change and choose from new alternatives if they wanted to save money and accept lower offers. The operator did not allow them to continue using the old tariff for the same amount.

The price increase this time will affect customers who regularly top up their credit and used the Twist S námi tariff. This tariff allowed calls for 3.90 CZK per minute, while the new price will be 4.50 CZK per minute. 100 minutes of calls will therefore cost customers topping up their credit 60 CZK more. “As of March 1, 2026, we are discontinuing your current Twist S námi tariff due to the standardization of our services. After this date, you will be transferred to the latest Twist Standard tariff,” T-Mobile customers are informed that they will not receive any additional benefits for the price increase. In fact, their conditions for obtaining the previously popular benefit have worsened.

At the beginning of February, T-Mobile also tightened the conditions for receiving rewards for top-ups, and although people can still receive 2 GB of data or unlimited calls to numbers of this brand for 7 days, the amount of top-up from which it is possible to receive the reward is changing. While previously a top-up of 300 CZK was sufficient, the minimum amount is now at least 400 CZK. No new bonuses are being offered.

T-Mobile was contacted for comment on whether customers can expect any new benefits in the future for the price increase; the company did not respond to this question.