Publication Overview
This report covers trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media including IPTV developments. Subjects include:
- Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
- Facts, figures and statistics;
- Industry and regulatory issues;
- Infrastructure;
- Major players, revenues, subscribers, ARPU, MOU;
- Internet, IPTV;
- Mobile voice and data markets;
- Broadband (FttH, DSL, cable TV, wireless);
- Convergence and digital media.
Researcher:- Paul Kwon
Current publication date:- October 2010 (9th Edition)
Next publication date:- October 2011
Executive Summary
Poland’s next generation broadband market
One of the larger Eastern European nations, Poland is defined by as an upper middle-income country by the World Bank. Since its transition to a market economy Poland has experienced sustained economic growth, assisted by its accession to the European Union which is now its main trading partner. Like many of its neighbours, Poland was affected by the recent global financial turmoil through declining demand for its exports, a slowdown of credit activity, and lower foreign direct investment inflows. However the country fared well as it was the only EU nation to escape recession in 2009, attributed to less dependence on external demand, limited pre-crisis imbalances as well as relatively sound and well-capitalised financial system. The EU estimates Poland’s real GDP to expand by 2.7% for 2010, rising to 3.3% for 2011.
Poland’s telecoms market has been shaped by EU policy, with markets liberalised and the incumbent privatised. Ongoing action by an active regulator such has improved market conditions, particularly in the network access sector.
Poland’s fixed broadband market is one of the largest in Eastern Europe due to its large population. Broadband represents the majority of Internet connections. Fixed broadband access is available via DSL, well-established cable TV networks, FttX and wireless. Healthy infrastructure-based competition is evident while a tougher regulatory regime is improving the wholesale market.
Poland is one of Europe’s more sizeable TV markets. Programming is accessible via cable TV, terrestrial free-to-air, broadband TV and satellite. The significant number of competing infrastructure operators for each delivery platform suggests continued consolidation of the fragmented market. Digital TV uptake is improving due to increasing affordability of both TVs and programming.
Poland possesses a well-developed mobile market with high mobile ownership levels. A number of mobile network operators offer services along with a number of mobile virtual network operators. Average Revenue per User levels have stabilised after falling in recent years due to retail tariff competition, regulatory mandated reductions in mobile termination rates and take up of mobile services by lower spending consumer segments of the market. 3G and 4G networks have been launched and coverage is expanding to support delivery of mobile broadband and content.
Market highlights:
- Poland’s broadband market continues to speed up; all four major cable TV operators offer DOCSIS 3.0-based fixed broadband services, offering up to 120Mb/s. Competing telcos are expanding the reach of FttX-based services.
- Possible consolidation may be underway in Poland’s fragmented cable TV market, with Poland’s second largest cable TV operator up for sale.
- Mobile market competition has intensified after a new market entrant became the first to launch commercial LTE services in Eastern Europe and the fourth globally. Two competing operators have been given permission to deploy a combined LTE network.
Poland broadband and telecoms statistics – 2010; 2011
|
Sector
|
2010
|
2011
|
|
Broadband (thousand)
|
|
Fixed broadband penetration
|
15%
|
18%
|
|
Mobile broadband penetration
|
30%
|
33%
|
|
Subscribers to telecoms services (million)
|
|
Fixed-line telephone subscribers
|
9.1
|
8.8
|
|
Mobile phone subscribers
|
45.5
|
46.3
|
(Source: BuddeComm based on industry data)
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.
