1. Introduction The objective of the National Plan for the Development of Next Generation Networks (the “National Plan”) is to define the strategic approach of the Czech Republic to the construction of Next Generation Networks (NGNs) and concurrently, through targeted support, to use the state’s influence to promote the construction of such networks while respecting the principle of technology neutrality1. Due to their importance and scope, NGNs will ultimately positively impact the economic growth of the Czech Republic, and will contribute towards improving the competitiveness of Czech enterprises. In the Czech Republic, investments into electronic communications networks are made, just as in other liberalised markets, by private entities based on market mechanisms and free competition, primarily in localities with good prospects for demand, while the gap in highspeed Internet access between rural and urban areas widens further. As a consequence of inadequate Internet access – even under a situation of rising demand – less populated areas of the Czech Republic could remain excluded from economic development over the long term. Internet access has become part of everyday life for the majority of the Czech population. According to the results of a statistical survey by the Czech Statistical Office in 2015, over 3.1 million Czech households (73%) had a computer and Internet access, however this figure does not consider the quality of the connection. From the perspective of the proportion of adults using the Internet, in 2014 the Czech Republic actually exceeded the EU28 average (the Internet was used by 79.7% of the Czech population aged between 16 and 74, while the EU average was 78.0%). Over the past five years there has also been a change in the modern technologies owned by households. Desktop computers have been replaced by portable computers, which were used by over half of households in 2015. The number of households with two and more computers has doubled. Mobile telephones were not used by only 3% of people aged over 16 in 2015; 37% of users connected to the Internet through their mobile telephones. Over three quarters of Internet users connect every day or almost every day. As regards the time spent on line, in 2015 28% of those aged 16 and over spent 1 to 5 hours a week on the Internet for private purposes. Another fifth spent 5 to 10 hours a week on the Internet. Czechs usually connect from home, from where almost three quarters of the Czech population accessed the Internet in 2015, or 97.2% of Internet users irrespective of connection quality. The availability of a high-speed Internet connection through NGNs for individuals and enterprises is of strategic importance for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and innovation, and leads to improvements in social and territorial cohesion. The existence of a high-speed Internet connection provides socio-economic advantages and supports social inclusion and employment. The implementation of these possibilities is however very 1 Act No 127/2005 Coll., § 5(4), on electronic communications, stipulates that in achieving the objectives set by the law, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall abide by the principles of non-discrimination, objectivity, technology neutrality, transparency, and proportionality. It is understood that in case of any potential conflict between the individual principles, a just balance is to be sought. Furthermore, under § 6(4) of the same Act, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Czech Telecommunication Office are required to reflect the need for a technologically neutral regulation; a technologically neutral regulation shall mean such regulation which does not impose an obligation to use a particular type of technology and/or which does not favour any type of technology. 5