Poland - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Poland's liberalised telecom market has seen considerable development in the broadband and mobile sectors. The incumbent telco, Orange Poland, dominates the broadband market and has invested in fibre infrastructure to support the growing adoption of bundled services among customers.

The regulatory environment has encouraged market competition, partly by encouraging operators to secure spectrum and also by ensuring access to cable and fibre infrastructure.

The mobile market in recent years has been characterised by the rapid extension of LTE networks and the development of mobile data services based on newly released and re-farmed spectrum. The regulator's attempts to auction spectrum in a range of bands has been delayed, with spectrum in the 5G-suitable 3.4-3.8GHz range having been suspended to later in 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and legislative changes.

Mobile penetration in Poland is above the European average, though this partly reflects the continuing popularity among consumers to keep two or more SIM cards, which has distorted the real mobile penetration rate. Nevertheless, the distortion has been addressed on two fronts: by network operators being encouraged to disconnect dormant SIM cards, and by legislation which obliges subscribers of prepaid services to register their details. These forces have resulted in a significant readjustment in the number of subscribers in the market.

The market has effective competition from four MNOs, and has room for more than two dozen MVNOs though many of these are small operators with marginal market share. ARPU has been adversely affected by retail tariff competition and by regulatory mandated reductions in mobile termination rates and roaming tariffs. In addition, roaming revenue has been deeply affected by the decline in international travel since 2020. However, operators anticipate that ARPU will rise in line with consumer adoption of mobile data services, facilitated by improved network infrastructure.

The fixed broadband market has benefited from excellent cross-platform competition, with comprehensive DSL infrastructure complemented by extensive cable networks and a growing fibre presence. Commercial considerations meant that fibre was for some years restricted to a number of urban areas, though more recently the sector has received considerable financial support from the government and the European Union. This support is aimed at building fibre-based networks across the country (particularly in eastern areas) and promoting fibre connectivity to end-users. As a result, the proportion of broadband subscribers receiving a service of at least 100Mb/s has increased sharply in recent years.

This report covers key aspects of Poland's developing telecom market, presenting data and analyses on market operators, fixed-line networks and technologies, and the key regulatory developments. The report reviews the fixed broadband market, including an assessment of technology platforms and recent market developments. In addition, the report profiles the main mobile network operators, and analyses recent regulatory measures and spectrum auction results, and evaluates LTE deployments and operator strategies for 5G.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Iliad secures 96.7% interest in Play;

Regulator sets August 2021 deadline for 3.7GHz auction for 5G services;

Polkomtel launches 5G services using spectrum in the 2.6GHz band;

Orange Poland looks to an investor to support its fibre network rollout;

Regulator amends cable network access rules;

Report update includes the regulator's market data report for 2019, State Statistics data updates for 2019, telcos' operating and financial data to Q4 2020, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

CenterNet, Polkomtel (Plus), T-Mobile Poland, P4/Play, Mobyland, UPC Poland, Orange Poland (Telekomunikacja Polska), Netia, Aster, Multimedia Polska, Vectra, Telefonia Dialog, GTS Energis, Exatel, Telekomunikacja Kolejowa.

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Historic overview
Telecommunications Act (2001)
Telecommunications Act (2004)
Mega-Act
Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments
- Telecom sector liberalisation
- Privatisation
- Interconnection
- Carrier selection and carrier preselection
- Access
- Number Portability (NP)
- European Electronic Communications Code
Mobile network developments
- GSM licences
- 3G licences
- 450MHz
- 800MHz and 2600MHz
- 1800MHz
- 3.4-3.8GHz
- 3600MHz
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
- Roaming
- Network sharing

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
- General statistics
- Prepaid cards
Mobile infrastructure
- Digital networks
Other infrastructure developments
- NB-IoT
Mobile voice
Mobile data
- SMS/MMS
Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators
- Orange Poland (PTK Centertel)
- Polkomtel/Plus
- T-Mobile Poland
- P4/Play
- Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
Mobile content and applications
- M-payment

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
- Market analysis
- Government and EU support
- National Broadband Plan
- Broadband statistics
Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)
Other fixed broadband services
- Wi-Fi
- WiMAX
- Internet via satellite

Fixed network operators

Introduction
Orange Poland
Netia
Telefonia Dialog
Telekomunikacja Kolejowa (TK Telekom)
T-Mobile Poland
Exatel

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
Orange Poland
Alternative operators
Smart infrastructure
- Smart cities
Data centres

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Poland - 2020 (e)
Table 2 - Development of telecom and access revenue - 2011 - 2019
Table 3 - Development of telecom sector revenue by sector - 2011 - 2019
Table 4 - Proportion of households with PCs and internet access - 2012 - 2019
Table 5 - Orange Poland wholesale access lines by type - 2009 - 2020
Table 6 - Reduction in the MTR - 2021 - 2024
Table 7 - Roaming traffic (voice, SMS, data) - 2011 - 2019
Table 8 - Mobile market revenue and annual change- 2009 - 2019
Table 9 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 10 - Mobile market share of subscribers by operator - 2009 - 2019
Table 11 - Mobile market share of revenue by operator - 2009 - 2019
Table 12 - Mobile market voice traffic and annual change - 2011 - 2019
Table 13 - Ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers - 2009 - 2019
Table 14 - Change in the number of Orange Poland's prepaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Table 15 - Change in the number of T-Mobile Poland's prepaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Table 16 - Mobile base stations in service - 2015 - 2019
Table 17 - M2M SIM cards in use - 2013 - 2019
Table 18 - Orange Poland's M2M cards in use - 2016 - 2020
Table 19 - Average mobile data traffic per subscriber - 2011 - 2019
Table 20 - Mobile data traffic - 2011 - 2019
Table 21 - SMS messages sent and annual growth - 2011 - 2019
Table 22 - MMS messages sent and annual growth - 2011 - 2019
Table 23 - Mobile broadband market share of subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2019
Table 24 - Dedicated mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2019
Table 25 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2026
Table 26 - Change in the number of Orange Poland's dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 27 - Development of Orange Poland's mobile revenue - 2011 - 2020
Table 28 - Orange Poland's mobile and mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 29 - Orange Poland's monthly ARPU/ARPO - 2010 - 2020
Table 30 - Change in the number of Polkomtel's mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2010; 2012 - 2020
Table 31 - Change in the number of T-Mobile Poland's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 32 - Development of T-Mobile Poland's financial data - 2011 - 2020
Table 33 - Development of T-Mobile Poland's mobile ARPU and churn - 2009 - 2020
Table 34 - Growth in the number of Play's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 35 - Play's mobile subscribers (under Iliad) - 2019 - 2020
Table 36 - Development of Play's financial data (PLN million) - 2010 - 2020
Table 37 - Development of Play's mobile ARPU - 2010 - 2020
Table 38 - Change in the number of Netia's mobile RGUs by type - 2010 - 2020
Table 39 - Change in internet ARPU - 2014 - 2019
Table 40 - Change in broadband market revenue by sector - 2010 - 2019
Table 41 - Change in the proportion of broadband market revenue by sector - 2010 - 2019
Table 42 - Change in broadband penetration by technology - 2009 - 2020
Table 43 - Change in the market share of broadband subscribers by technology - 2013 - 2019
Table 44 - Change in the market share of fixed/mobile internet connections by operator - 2016 - 2019
Table 45 - Change in the proportion of broadband connections by data rate - 2010 - 2019
Table 46 - Increase in internet subscriber penetration - 2012 - 2021
Table 47 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 48 - Change in the number of UPC Poland's subscribers (thousand) - 2011 - 2020
Table 49 - Growth in UPC Poland's revenue - 2016 - 2020
Table 50 - Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers - 2009 - 2019
Table 51 - Change in the market share of cable broadband subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2019
Table 52 - Multimedia Polska broadband subscribers - 2009 - 2017
Table 53 - Multimedia Polska revenue (PLN million) by service - 2016 - 2017
Table 54 - Multimedia Polska financial data - 2016 - 2017
Table 55 - Change in the number of DSL broadband subscribers - 2009 - 2019
Table 56 - Growth in the number of Orange Poland's fixed broadband subscribers - 2010- 2020
Table 57 - Development of Orange Poland's fixed broadband ARPU/ARPO - 2011 - 2020
Table 58 - Change in the number of Netia's broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 59 - Change in the market share of DSL subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2019
Table 60 - Change in the number of T-Mobile Poland's broadband subscribers - 2016 - 2020
Table 61 - Increase in fibre broadband revenue - 2015 - 2019
Table 62 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2009 - 2019
Table 63 - Change in the market share of fibre broadband subscribers by operator - 2015 - 2019
Table 64 - Growth in the number of Orange Poland's fibre subscribers - 2015 - 2020
Table 65 - Length of fibre network - 2013 - 2019
Table 66 - Satellite broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2018
Table 67 - Market share of fixed-line subscribers by main operator - 2010 - 2019
Table 68 - Market share of fixed-line subscribers, Orange and altnets - 2011 - 2019
Table 69 - Fixed-line call traffic - 2011 - 2019
Table 70 - Market share of fixed-line accesses by technology - 2012 - 2019
Table 71 - Decline in fixed-line telephony ARPU - 2009 - 2019
Table 72 - Orange Poland retail lines by type (thousand) - 2011 - 2020
Table 73 - Orange Poland fixed-line voice ARPU/ARPO - 2009 - 2020
Table 74 - Development of Orange Poland's financial data - 2009 - 2020
Table 75 - Development of Orange Poland's revenue by sector (€) - 2010 - 2020
Table 76 - Development of Netia's financial data - 2011 - 2020
Table 77 - Change in the number of Netia's subscribers by type - 2011 - 2020
Table 78 - T-Mobile Poland's fixed-line revenue - 2014 - 2020
Table 79 - T-Mobile Poland's fixed-line subscribers - 2016 - 2020
Table 80 - Development of T-Mobile Poland's financial data (PLN) - 2018 - 2020
Table 81 - Fibre access nodes in service - 2013 - 2019
Table 82 - Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
Table 83 - Fixed-line call traffic in service and teledensity - 2010 - 2019
Table 84 - International bandwidth - 2009 - 2017
Table 85 - Proportion of fixed-line revenue by type - 2011 - 2017
Table 86 - Smart infrastructure funding by program - 2014 - 2020
Table 87 - Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration - 2009 - 2010
Table 88 - Historic - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2009 - 2010
Table 89 - Historic - Telecom and access revenue - 2008 - 2010
Table 90 - Historic - Mobile market traffic and annual change - 2006 - 2010
Table 91 - Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2009 - 2010
Table 92 - Historic - Fixed-wireless broadband subscribers - 2016 - 2018
Table 93 - Historic - Mobile data traffic - 2008 - 2010
Table 94 - Historic - SMS messages sent and annual growth - 2006 - 2010
Table 95 - Historic - MMS messages sent and annual growth- 2006 - 2010
Table 96 - Historic - Mobile broadband market share of subscribers by operator - 2008 - 2010
Table 97 - Historic - Orange dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2007 - 2010
Table 98 - Historic - Roaming traffic (voice, SMS, data) - 2007 - 2010
Table 99 - Historic - Orange Poland mobile revenue - 2008 - 2010
Table 100 - Historic - Orange Poland mobile and mobile broadband subscribers (thousand) - 2007 - 2010
Table 101 - Historic - T-Mobile subscribers - 2007 - 2010
Table 102 - Historic - T-Mobile financial data - 2005 - 2010
Table 103 - Historic - Play mobile subscribers (thousand) - 2007 - 2010
Table 104 - Historic - Change in the number of UPC Poland's subscribers (thousand) - 2008 - 2010
Table 105 - Historic - Development of Orange Poland's broadband ARPU/ARPO - 2008 - 2010
Table 106 - Historic - Change in the number of Netia's broadband subscribers - 2008 - 2010
Table 107 - Historic - Satellite broadband subscribers - 2008 - 2010
Table 108 - Historic - Market share of subscribers, Orange and altnets - 2006 - 2010
Table 109 - Historic - Fixed-line call traffic - 2007 - 2010
Table 110 - Historic - Netia financial data (PLN million) - 2007 - 2010
Table 111 - Historic - Netia subscribers by type (million) - 2008 - 2010
Table 112 - Historic - Dedicated mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2004 - 2010
Table 113 - Historic - Household internet access by type - 2015 - 2016
Table 114 - Historic - Proportion of businesses with broadband - 2012 - 2016

List of Charts

Chart 1 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Leaders (top tier)
Chart 2 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers (middle tier)
Chart 3 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents (bottom tier)
Chart 4 - Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 5 - Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 - Scandinavia and Baltics - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 - Northern Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 - Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 - Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 - Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 11 - Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 12 - Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 13 - Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 14 - Development of telecom and access revenue - 2011 - 2019
Chart 15 - Development of telecom sector revenue by sector - 2011 - 2019
Chart 16 - Orange Poland wholesale access lines by type - 2009 - 2020
Chart 17 - Roaming traffic (voice, SMS, data) - 2011 - 2019
Chart 18 - Mobile market revenue and annual change- 2009 - 2019
Chart 19 - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2026
Chart 20 - Mobile market share of subscribers by operator - 2009 - 2019
Chart 21 - Mobile market share of revenue by operator - 2009 - 2019
Chart 22 - Mobile market voice traffic and annual change - 2011 - 2019
Chart 23 - Ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers - 2009 - 2019
Chart 24 - Change in the number of Orange Poland's prepaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Chart 25 - Change in the number of T-Mobile Poland's prepaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Chart 26 - Mobile data traffic - 2011 - 2019
Chart 27 - SMS messages sent and annual growth - 2011 - 2019
Chart 28 - MMS messages sent and annual growth - 2011 - 2019
Chart 29 - Mobile broadband market share of subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2019
Chart 30 - Dedicated mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2019
Chart 31 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2026
Chart 32 - Orange Poland's mobile and mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 33 - Orange Poland's monthly ARPU/ARPO - 2010 - 2020
Chart 34 - Change in the number of Polkomtel's mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2010; 2012 - 2020
Chart 35 - Change in the number of T-Mobile Poland's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 36 - Development of T-Mobile Poland's financial data - 2011 - 2020
Chart 37 - Growth in the number of Play's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 38 - Development of Play's financial data (PLN million) - 2010 - 2020
Chart 39 - Development of Play's mobile ARPU - 2010 - 2020
Chart 40 - Netia mobile RGUs by type - 2010 - 2020
Chart 41 - Change in internet ARPU - 2014 - 2019
Chart 42 - Change in broadband market revenue by sector - 2010 - 2019
Chart 43 - Change in the proportion of broadband market revenue by sector - 2010 - 2019
Chart 44 - Change in broadband penetration by technology - 2009 - 2020
Chart 45 - Change in the market share of broadband subscribers by technology - 2013 - 2019
Chart 46 - Change in the market share of fixed/mobile internet connections by operator - 2016 - 2019
Chart 47 - Change in the proportion of broadband connections by data rate - 2010 - 2019
Chart 48 - Increase in internet subscriber penetration - 2012 - 2021
Chart 49 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 50 - Change in the number of UPC Poland's subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 52 - Change in the market share of cable broadband subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2019
Chart 53 - Growth in the number of Orange Poland's fixed broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2020
Chart 54 - Development of Orange Poland's fixed broadband ARPU/ARPO - 2011 - 2020
Chart 55 - Change in the market share of DSL subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2019
Chart 56 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2009 - 2019
Chart 57 - Change in the market share of fibre broadband subscribers by operator - 2015 - 2019
Chart 58 - Growth in the number of Orange Poland's fibre subscribers - 2015 - 2020
Chart 59 - Market share of fixed-line subscribers by main operator - 2010 - 2019
Chart 60 - Market share of fixed-line subscribers, Orange and altnets - 2011 - 2019
Chart 61 - Market share of fixed-line accesses by technology - 2012 - 2019
Chart 62 - Orange Poland retail lines by type - 2011 - 2020
Chart 63 - Development of Orange Poland's financial data - 2009 - 2020
Chart 64 - Development of Orange Poland's revenue by sector (€) - 2010 - 2020
Chart 65 - Development of Netia's financial data - 2011 - 2020
Chart 66 - Change in the number of Netia's subscribers by type - 2011 - 2020
Chart 67 - Development of T-Mobile Poland's financial data (PLN) - 2018 - 2020
Chart 68 - Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
Chart 69 - Proportion of fixed-line revenue by type - 2011 - 2017

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 - Access, the local loop and unbundling - an overview
Exhibit 3 - 2G spectrum awarded
Exhibit 4 - Spectrum assignments by operator
Exhibit 5 - Key considerations for government and regulators in relation to 5G
Exhibit 6 - Play spectrum concessions

Poland - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Description

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Polish government presents August 2021 deadline for 5G auctions

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Table of Contents

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

List of Charts

List of Exhibits