Choosing a mobile operator is the first thing you need to do when you arrive in Poland. After all, when opening a bank account or renting an apartment, you will be asked to enter a Polish phone number.
The choice is very wide: it all depends on needs and financial capabilities. What mobile operators are there in Poland? What are the prices for communication and internet? In this article, we will discuss how to choose the operator that is right for you.
Mobile operators in Poland: list
There are 4 main operators in Poland:
| Operator | Description |
|---|---|
| Orange | One of the largest mobile operators. Currently, the company has about 500 branches throughout the country. |
| Play | In 2019, there were more than 15 million active SIM cards in the Play network, which made it the largest operator in the country at that time. |
| Plus | The company was founded in Poland in 1996. The last decade in the Plus network was marked by the development of high-speed Internet. |
| T-Mobile | The company was created by rebranding the Polish chain Era in 2011. At the moment, it serves more than 12 million customers. |
Other mobile operators in Poland are virtual. They often offer cheap rates, but use the infrastructure of larger companies.
List of virtual operators:
- Lycamobile – the network started operating in Poland in 2011 and uses the infrastructure of the mobile operator Plus.
- Virgin Mobile in Poland since 2012. It works in Play networks, which were purchased in 2020.
- Heyah is a Polish brand that uses the T-Mobile network.
- nju mobile has been on the Polish market since 2013. The operator works in the Orange network.
- Plush has been on the Polish market since 2013. The operator works in the Orange network.
- Mobile Vikings started working in Poland in 2013 and uses the Play infrastructure.
- Red Bull Mobile is owned by a well-known manufacturer of energy drinks. He has been working in Poland since 2011 and cooperates with Play.
- Lyca mobile is a virtual operator operating in the Plus network.
- Lajt mobile is a brand created in 2013 and owned by TeleStrada SA.
- Otvarta is a Polish mobile operator that has been operating since 2018. Its characteristic feature is a creative approach to marketing, large investments in outdoor advertising, the Internet, the press, radio and television.
- Premium Mobile is a virtual operator that appeared on the Polish market in 2016 of the Premium Mobile network. Currently, it is one of the largest virtual operators in Poland.³
How to choose a mobile operator in Poland
There is a lot of competition on the Polish market, so choosing an operator is not so easy. Almost everyone tries to attract the customer by offering the most profitable packages. What should you pay attention to first of all?
Compare the coverage of mobile operators. Although there shouldn’t be any communication problems these days, it’s still worth checking everyone’s coverage. Four operators (Orange, Play, Plus, T-Mobile) use different stations in different locations. Where one has great coverage, another may fall behind.
It is worth paying attention to how this or that operator approaches landline calls. Sometimes you need to call a facility that doesn’t have a cell phone number. Many operators forget this and make landline calls expensive.
If you are going to call your loved ones abroad, check the prices for international calls. Due to the large number of foreigners, mobile operators in Poland offer favorable rates.
Pay attention to the speed of the Internet and the number of gigabytes. A few gigabytes will be enough for viewing news and sending messages. If you want to watch movies or play games online, you will need at least 10 GB.
Before choosing a mobile operator in Poland, think about which service you want to use. There are 3 options:
- Sign a contract (subscription). This is a great opportunity to get unlimited access to calls and SMS, as well as to buy a smartphone at a favorable rate. To sign the contract, you will need a residence permit (karta pobytu). The contract is signed for several years. You can terminate it, but you will have to pay a fee for early termination (read all conditions in the contract).
- Buy a subscription package (na kartę). This option is cheaper if we talk about a one-time payment. Suitable for those who do not want to be bound by a contract. However, there are fewer amenities, opportunities and favorable offers. In this case, you need to pay once a month (you can refuse such a tariff at any time).
- The mix option is a combination of a contract and a subscription package. The account is replenished for a certain amount at least once a month.
Prices for communication, mobile Internet and tariffs
According to the website of the European Commission, compared to other European countries, prices for mobile communication in Poland are relatively low.¹ The starter package costs about 5 PLN. Free minutes or gigabytes are often given additionally.
Let’s get acquainted with the tariffs of the main operators:
- A minute of talk on the Play network costs PLN 0.39, SMS – PLN 0.25.⁴
- In the Plus network, the cost of one minute is PLN 0.29, SMS – PLN 0.18.⁵
- At T-Mobile, you will pay PLN 0.30 per minute of call, and PLN 0.20 per SMS.⁶
- In the Orange network, a minute costs PLN 0.29, SMS – PLN 0.20.⁷
As you can see, the cost is about the same – somewhere a little cheaper, somewhere a little more expensive. Remember that prices are subject to change. Check the current tariffs before choosing a mobile operator in Poland.
And one more important point: constantly replenishing the account is unprofitable. It is better to buy a subscription package (na kartę) or conclude a contract (abonament). These services are provided by every mobile operator in Poland. The estimated cost of the package is from 20 to 40 PLN. For example, an Orange subscription package costs PLN 30. At the same time, you will receive 30 GB of Internet, unlimited calls and SMS messages.⁸
The conclusion of the contract will cost more. For example, signing a contract in the Plus network for several years costs from PLN 35 to PLN 85. You can also choose the number of gigabytes of Internet (the cost of the service depends on this). It is beneficial to conclude a contract when you want to buy a mobile phone. For example, the operator T-Mobile offers unlimited Internet, free calls and SMS, as well as a smartphone of your choice for PLN 65 per month (within 2 years).⁹ If you want a new smartphone, but are not ready to pay the whole amount at once, you can consider similar offers from different operators.
Regarding the Internet: if there are not enough gigabytes in your package, you can always buy additional ones. You will pay from 5 to 30 zlotys for them.
So, there is not one specific operator in Poland that can be called the best. Everyone is trying to attract new customers with different promotions and tariffs. Before buying a starter package, go to the operators’ websites and view the current offers. You may be able to save well.
Sources:
- The website of the European Commission – prices for communication in Europe
- T-Mobile: company information
- Komorkomat.pl: Polish mobile operators
- Play operator – tariffs
- Operator Plus – tariffs
- T-Mobile operator – tariffs
- Operator Orange – tariffs
- Operator Orange – subscription package
- Operator T-Mobile – contract
- Information center for consumers – documents for SIM card registration