Telefonica has launched a mobile payments service in the Czech Republic, thought to be the group’s first large-scale commercial NFC launch.

The operator is offering the service in partnership with the country’s GE Money Bank and MasterCard.

Telefonica subscribers who have the bank’s credit or debit cards will be able to make payments using a number of NFC-based Android handsets at retail point-of-sale terminals which offer MasterCard’s PayPass technology.

This is also the first commercial NFC launch in the Czech Republic.

However, the service is initially only available with three handsets: Samsung’s Galaxy Note II, the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Ace 2.

For relatively small transactions of up to CZK500 ($26.50), subscribers do not need to enter a PIN number but for larger amounts they need to provide the additional authentication.

Telefonica has previously launched a number of trial services in the Czech Republic, including a limited commercial launch last summer.

Elsewhere in the group, Telefonica Germany recently said it will launch a trial of NFC-based technology in mid-February. In the UK, the operator has launched its O2 Wallet but not yet an NFC-based service. This is expected later in 2013, with a similar timetable likely in Spain.