2019 Poland - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 12 May 2020 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 157

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Publication Overview

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Poland’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include:

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
Facts, figures and statistics;
Industry and regulatory issues;
Infrastructure developments;
Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
Mobile Voice and Data Markets;
Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless);
Mobile subscribers and ARPU;
Broadband market forecasts;
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Market liberalisation and industry issues;
Telecoms operators – privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G).

Researcher:- Henry Lancaster
Current publication date:- June 2019 (18th Edition)

Executive Summary

Poland preps for 5G multi-spectrum auctions

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 also been shaped by EU principles designed to facilitate competition, allowing competing operators to enter the market. This extended to opening Orange Poland’s fibre network to access and pricing regulation, while in May 2019 the regulator also instituted new rules governing wholesale access to cable networks.

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 is preparing to release additional spectrum in several bands for 5G, though delays to the process mean that 700MHz spectrum is unlikely to be available before mid-2022.

Operators have invested in 5G, with T-Mobile Poland having launched a pre-commercial service in Warsaw at the end of 2018, and with full commercial services expected to be available in early 2020.

Mobile penetration in Poland is above the European average, standing at 137% by mid-2019. This 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, effective from February 2017, 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. 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 in 2020 is having 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:

Regulator delays for multi-spectrum auction for 5G services;
Polkomtel launches 5G services using spectrum in the 2.6GHz band;
Government proposes reduced licence fees if MNOs improve network coverage;
T-Mobile Poland and Orange Poland extend 5G trials;
T-Mobile Poland launches NB-IoT services;
Orange Poland revenue decline prompts outsourcing and disposal strategy;
Regulator amends cable network access rules;
Poland may fail to reach 2020 broadband targets given high cost of network rollouts;
Vectra’s plan to merge with Multimedia receives competition scrutiny;
UPC Poland launches 1Gb/s cable services based on DOCSIS3.1;
Report update includes the regulator’s market data reports, State Statistics data for 2017, telcos’ operating and financial data to Q1 2019, 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.

Henry Lancaster
June 2019

Key statistics
Country overview
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Historic overview
Telecommunications Act (2001)
Telecommunications Act (2004)
Mega-Act
Regulatory authority
Telecom sector liberalisation
Privatisation
Interconnection
Carrier selection and carrier preselection
Access

Fibre access

Number Portability (NP)

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

Broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Forecasts – broadband subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023

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

Mobile communications

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

Prepaid cards

Mobile infrastructure

Digital networks

Other infrastructure developments

NB-IoT

Mobile voice
Mobile data

SMS/MMS

Mobile broadband

Regulatory issues

Major mobile operators

Orange Poland (PTK Centertel)
Polkomtel/Plus GSM
T-Mobile Poland
P4/Play
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Mobile content and applications

M-payment

Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Poland – 2018
Table 2 – Telecom and access revenue – 2008 – 2019
Table 3 – Proportion of households with PCs and internet access – 2012 – 2017
Table 4 – Household internet access by type – 2015 – 2016
Table 5 – Fixed-line call traffic – 2007 – 2018
Table 6 – Fixed-line telephony ARPU – 2009 – 2019
Table 7 – Orange Poland fixed-line voice ARPU/ARPO – 2009 – 2019
Table 8 – T-Mobile Poland fixed-line revenue – 2015 – 2019
Table 9 – T-Mobile Poland fixed-line subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Table 10 – Fibre nodes in service – 2013 – 2017
Table 11 – Fixed-line call traffic in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2017
Table 12 – International bandwidth – 2009 – 2016
Table 13 – Smart infrastructure funding by program – 2014 – 2020
Table 14 – Broadband penetration by technology – 2010 – 2017
Table 15 – Internet market share of subscribers by technology – 2013 – 2017
Table 16 – Fixed-line broadband market share by operator – 2011 – 2015
Table 17 – Proportion of broadband connections by data rate – 2010 – 2017
Table 18 – Proportion of businesses with broadband – 2012 – 2018
Table 20 – Cable subscribers – 2004 – 2019
Table 21 – UPC Poland revenue – 2016 – 2019
Table 22 – Multimedia Polska broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2017
Table 23 – Multimedia Polska revenue by service – 2016 – 2017
Table 24 – Multimedia Polska financial data – 2016 – 2017
Table 25 – DSL broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Table 26 – Orange Poland broadband ARPU/ARPO – 2008 – 2019
Table 27 – Netia broadband subscribers – 2008 – 2019
Table 28 – Multimedia broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2017
Table 29 – T-Mobile Poland broadband subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Table 30 – Fibre broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Table 31 – Orange Poland fibre subscribers – 2015 – 2019
Table 32 – Length of fibre network – 2013 – 2017
Table 33 – Satellite broadband subscribers – 2008 – 2019
Table 34 – Mobile base stations in service – 2015 – 2017
Table 35 – M2M SIM cards in use – 2013 – 2017
Table 36 – Orange M2M cards in use – 2016 – 2019
Table 37 – Average mobile data traffic per subscriber – 2011 – 2017
Table 38 – Mobile data traffic – 2008 – 2017
Table 39 – MMS messages sent and annual growth– 2006 – 2019
Table 40 – Orange dedicated mobile broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2019
Table 41 – Orange Poland mobile revenue – 2010 – 2019
Table 42 – T-Mobile ARPU and churn – 2009 – 2019

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Telecom revenue by sector – 2012 – 2017
Chart 2 – Orange Poland wholesale access lines by type – 2015 – 2019
Chart 3 – Market share of revenue by main operator – 2010 – 2017
Chart 4 – Market share of subscribers, Orange and altnets – 2006 – 2017
Chart 5 – Market share of fixed-line accesses by technology – 2012 – 2017
Chart 6 – Orange Poland retail lines by type – 2011 – 2019
Chart 7 – Orange Poland financial data (PLN) – 2006 – 2019
Chart 8 – Orange Poland financial data by type (€) – 2013 – 2019
Chart 9 – Netia financial data – 2007 – 2019
Chart 10 – Netia subscribers by type – 2008 – 2019
Chart 11 – T-Mobile Poland financial data – 2015 – 2019
Chart 12 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2009 – 2019
Chart 13 – Proportion of fixed-line revenue by type – 2011 – 2017
Chart 14 – Broadband market revenue by sector – 2006 – 2017
Chart 15 – Proportion of broadband market revenue by sector – 2006 – 2017
Chart 16 – Internet market share of subscribers by technology – 2013 – 2017
Chart 17 – Proportion of broadband connections by data rate – 2010 – 2017
Chart 18 – Internet subscriber penetration rates – 2012 – 2019
Chart 19 – Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 – 2019
Chart 20 – UPC Poland subscribers – 2008 – 2019
Chart 21 – Cable market share of subscribers by operator – 2010 – 2017
Chart 22 – Orange Poland DSL and VDSL subscribers – 2003 – 2019
Chart 23 – DSL market share of subscribers by operator – 2010 – 2017
Chart 24 – Fibre market share of subscribers by operator – 2010 – 2017
Chart 25 – Mobile market revenue and annual change– 2009 – 2019
Chart 26 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2000 – 2019
Chart 27 – Mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2009 – 2017
Chart 28 – Mobile market share of revenue by operator – 2009 – 2017
Chart 29 – Mobile market traffic and annual change – 2006 – 2017
Chart 30 – Ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers – 2009 – 2017
Chart 31 – Orange Poland prepaid subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 32 – T-Mobile Poland prepaid subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 33 – Mobile data traffic – 2008 – 2019
Chart 34 – SMS messages sent and annual growth – 2006 – 2019
Chart 35 – MMS messages sent and annual growth – 2006 – 2019
Chart 36 – Mobile broadband market share of subscribers by operator – 2008 – 2017
Chart 37 – Dedicated mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2004 – 2019
Chart 38 – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 – 2019
Chart 39 – Roaming traffic (voice, SMS, data) – 2007 – 2017
Chart 40 – Orange Poland mobile and mobile broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2019
Chart 41 – Orange total monthly ARPU/ARPO – 2010 – 2019
Chart 42 – Polkomtel mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2010; 2012 – 2019
Chart 43 – T-Mobile subscribers – 2007 – 2019
Chart 44 – T-Mobile financial data – 2005 – 2019
Chart 45 – Play mobile subscribers – 2007 – 2019
Chart 46 – Play financial data – 2013 – 2019
Chart 47 – Play mobile ARPU – 2016 – 2019
Chart 48 – Netia mobile RGUs by type – 2010 – 2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Access, the local loop and unbundling – an overview
Exhibit 2 – 5G spectrum, speed and devices
Exhibit 3 – Key considerations for government and regulators in relation to 5G
Exhibit 4 – 2G spectrum awarded
Exhibit 5 – Play spectrum concessions – 2018

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2019 Poland - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Poland preps for 5G multi-spectrum auctions

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Country overview

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Broadband market

Mobile communications

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views