Poland’s mature and liberalized telecom has seen considerable development in the broadband and mobile sectors. The privatized incumbent, recently rebranded as Orange Poland, has benefited from its parent company’s technical experience and know-how in the region. The regulatory environment has been shaped by EU principles designed to facilitate competition, allowing competing operators to enter the market. Recently this extended to opening Orange Poland’s fibre network to access and pricing regulation. This report covers key aspects of Poland’s evolving telecom market, presenting comprehensive data and information on market players, fixed-line networks and technologies, the wholesale market, as well as an overview of key regulatory developments.

Fibre infrastructure expected to have accounted for 41% of total telecom investment in 2014Poland’s mature and liberalized telecom market has seen considerable development in the broadband and mobile sectors. The privatized incumbent, rebranded as Orange Poland, has benefited from its parent company’s technical experience and know-how in the region. The regulatory environment has been shaped by EU principles designed to facilitate competition, and which has allowed a significant number of competing operators to enter the market. Recently this extended to opening Orange Poland’s fibre network to access and pricing regulation.

The mature fixed broadband market, one of the largest in Eastern Europe, benefits from excellent cross-platform competition given the ubiquitous DSL infrastructure and extensive cable networks. DSL remains the most popular fixed broadband access platform, followed by cable services which are provided by a number of well-established cable TV operators. Fixed-line access is also available via FttX, and though this remains limited to a number of urban areas there is considerable support from the government and the European Union to fast-track fibre-based networks across the country. Mobile broadband in the most popular platform by subscribers, the result of mobile network operators having invested in infrastructure during the last few years, combined with the greater availability of sophisticated devices.

Poland’s mobile market is benefitting from continued investments in LTE networks. By the beginning of 2015, mobile penetration was about 152%, among the highest levels in the region and reflecting the popularity among consumers for keeping two or more SIM cards. With about 58 million subscribers, the market has room for 26 licensed operators, including 19 MVNOs. The relatively high number of network operators is indicative of market consolidation in coming years, as has been seen in other European markets. LTE networks are now widespread, and coverage is expected to improve markedly into 2015 following the regulator’s multi-spectrum auction.

Orange Poland says its 4G LTE network now offers coverage of 87% of the population, with around 200 base station already utilising its recently acquired 800MHz and 2600MHz frequencies. In addition, 17 sites provide coverage in both bands, meaning carrier aggregation technology can be used to book peak theoretical download speeds to between 200Mbps and 300Mbps. Prior to the sale of the new 4G spectrum via an auction which completed last October, Orange could only offer LTE-based services over the network of its infrastructure sharing partner T-Mobile Poland. For its part, T-Mobile says it expects to be covering 92% of the population with 4G services by the end of June.

Key developments:
– Government creates Ministry of Administration and Digitalization to oversee telecom sector development;
– Polkomtel trials LTE-B technology;
– PTK Centertel adopts Orange brand following merger with Telekomunikacja Polska; regulator signs 800MHz usage agreement with Ukraine; regulator eases cut in MTRs in exchange
– Netia acquires TK Telekom; government creates Ministry of Administration and Digitalization to oversee telecom ;
– Landis+Gyr develops delivers smart meters in Warsaw;
– Telecommunications Act amended; theft of telecom equipment and cabling escalates;
– Deutsche Telekom acquires GTS Central Europe;
– Orange Poland revenue decline prompts outsourcing and disposal strategy; time taken for number portings reduced to
– Orange Poland builds 1,800km fibre network; regulator enforces EC’s access and price ruling on Orange Poland’s