Telecommunications in Poland

Telephony

• Calling code: +48
• International call prefix: 00
• Main lines:
  • 5.3 million lines in use (2022);
  • 6.1 million lines in use (2012);
  • 10.3 million lines in use (2007).
• Mobile cellular:
  • 53.05 million lines (2024)
  • 50.6 million lines (2021);
  • 50.8 million lines (2012);
  • 45.0 million lines (2009).
• Telephone system: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market-based competition; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in mobile-cellular services; mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nationwide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service lags in rural areas; international direct dialing with automated exchanges (2011).
• Satellite earth stations: 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2011).

The market for fixed-line telephony services and infrastructure was monopolized by the state until 1990. The state monopoly was implemented by the PPTiT which was subordinated to the Ministry of Communications. The telephony segments of that entity were spun-off and incorporated into Telekomunikacja Polska, which was later privatized and sold to Orange Polska. The Telecommunications Act of 1990 allowed the provision of telecommunication infrastructure and services by the former monopoly. After 2000, other operators were allowed to use TP's telecommunications infrastructure under Third-party Access.

From the communist era Poland inherited an underdeveloped and outmoded system of telephones, with some areas (e.g. in the extreme South East) being served by manual exchanges. In December 2005 the last analog exchange was shut down. All telephone lines are now served by modern fully computerized exchanges (Siemens EWSD, Alcatel S12, Lucent 5ESS, Alcatel E10). The former state owned telephone monopoly (TPSA) has been mostly privatized, with France Telecom buying the largest share. Various other companies have entered the fixed phone market, but generally aiming for niches (e.g. Sferia with fixed wireless, Netia covering primarily business). Whilst prices have reduced and availability has increased considerably since the introduction of competition, there is little sign of TPSA's market share being seriously reduced.

There are three competing networks with similar market share, T-Mobile (T-Mobile and Heyah brands), Orange Polska (Orange and nju brands) and Plus (Plus and plush brands). The fourth network, Play, started offering UMTS network services in early 2007.

As of 2022, all mobile operators run nationwide LTE . Play, Plus, and Orange have nationwide UMTS coverage. Plus also offers full 5G coverage in most cities on 2.6 GHz

The auction for the 5G network in the n78 band has been ended and the commercial launch of the network is expected at the end of 2023

Internet

• Top-level domain: .pl
• Internet users:
  • 35.75 million users; 88.1% of the population (2024)
  • 31.97 million users; 84.5% of the population (2021)
  • 25.0 million users, 21st in the world; 65.0% of the population, 54th in the world (2012);
  • 22.5 million users, 19th in the world (2009);
  • 16 million users (2007).
• Fixed broadband: 6.4 million subscriptions, 17th in the world; 16.6% of the population, 54th in the world (2012).
• Wireless broadband: 18.9 million subscriptions, 16th in the world; 49.3% of the population, 33rd in the world (2012).
• Internet hosts: 13.3 million hosts, 12th in the world (2012).
• IPv4: 19.4 million addresses allocated, 21st in the world, 0.5% of the world total, 505.9 addresses per 1000 people (2012).
• Internet service providers: 19 ISPs (1999).