5G encompasses more than just faster internet; it’s a complete transformation towards a hyper-connected ecosystem that bridges the gap between urban and rural areas. More importantly, it fosters innovative industries, sparking new ideas and fueling a dynamic economic landscape.
This journey is marked by more than just infrastructure upgrades; it represents a national strategy that aims to harness the full potential of 5G to connect people, places, and ideas with unprecedented speed and reliability.
Major telecom players such as Orange Polska, T-Mobile, and Play are not merely expanding their networks but laying the groundwork for a digital metamorphosis that promises to touch every aspect of Polish life—from smart cities and autonomous vehicles to advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge research.
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Poland’s 5G Landscape
At the forefront of Poland’s 5G revolution are major telecom operators Orange Polska, T-Mobile, and Play, each carving out a substantial footprint in the national rollout.
In the latter half of 2024, Orange Polska will shift its focus to crafting a new strategy, which is scheduled for release in early 2025, according to CEO, Liudmila Climoc. “We will intensify work on the new strategy, which is to be presented at the beginning of 2025, in the second half of the year,” the CEO said. This forthcoming strategy will expand upon the current one. The growth plan aims for steady revenue and EBITDA growth, with annual capital expenditures estimated to hover around PLN 1.7 to 1.9 billion. The new strategy will also sustain a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 1.7 to 2.2 times and uphold dividend distributions.
Orange Polska is actively expanding its 5G network, which is already operational in over 280 cities. By the end of the year, the company plans to enhance its 5G coverage to nearly 3,000 base stations across 350 cities and towns.
T-Mobile is also making significant strides, with plans to cover 40% of Poland’s population with 5G by the end of 2024. The 5G Bardziej network, rolled out in January 2024 by T-Mobile Poland S.A., operator of the largest C-band 5G network in Poland, is already broadcasting a signal in more than 330 locations across the country.
In large cities, reliable connectivity with transmission speeds of up to 1 GB per second—previously limited to optical fiber—is now required in most of the 2,000 base stations. Of these, 300 are located in Warsaw, over 140 in Kraków, and more than 130 in Poznań.
Play is another crucial player in Poland’s 5G landscape. It is set to deploy services in over 1,000 locations by 2025. Since the beginning of this year, Play customers have been able to use the 5G network on the new 3500-3600 MHz frequencies. The operator also obtained the first C-band radio permits from the Office of Electronic Communications.
The new resources will significantly boost the capacity and speed of the next-generation network to 1 Gbps. Their strategy involves expanding coverage to both metropolitan centers and peripheral areas. This includes transmitters in cities like Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Lublin, Warsaw, and Łódź, as well as in smaller towns such as Władysławowo and Ryki. The operator plans to gradually extend the network’s availability as more permits are obtained, using cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships to ensure broad and effective deployment.
Moreover, Plus is expanding its network coverage with 5G, 5G Ultra, and fiber-optic technologies. Currently, 23 million people in Poland have access to Plus’s 5G network, while 6 million can use the faster 5G Ultra. The Plus Światłowód fiber-optic internet is also growing and is now available to over 13 million people in Poland. Looking ahead to 2025, Plus plans to further expand its 5G network. By combining new C-band spectrum with existing resources, customers will soon benefit from even faster 5G speeds of up to 2 Gbps.
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Culture and Commerce Intersect
As the 5G wave surges across Poland, it sets the stage for a revolution in how industries operate and how citizens interact with technology.
Representatives of this modernism can be found in Warszawa, Gdańsk, Kraków and Łódz, where Poland’s tech ecosystem is buzzing with energy, driven by the opportunities unlocked by modern technology. These cities house robust logistics networks that simplify shipping and distribution and a strong tech ecosystem that enhances business competitiveness.
As a pioneer in Poland’s vast startup ecosystem, Warsaw boasts over 3,000 startups, 300 co-working spaces, and 130 venture capital firms, with the Warsaw University of Technology playing a significant role in fostering this innovation.
On the other side of the Vistula River lies the Kraków Technology Park, which is at the heart of the innovation, research and development that is pushing the boundaries of what technology can achieve. It’s home to over 300 businesses and provides tax incentives and growth support, making it an ideal base for international companies looking to collaborate with innovative Polish firms.
The Gdańsk University of Technology has been leading the way in high-speed connectivity for some time, all thanks to its contributions to developing Internet of Things (IoT) technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G networks. Gdańsk University of Technology (PG) is one of the few institutions in Poland that has established its own 5G network and services laboratory. As highlighted by the university, this new facility provides researchers with a platform to experiment with cutting-edge solutions.
Łódz, often hailed as an intelligent city, has witnessed the launch of the DIH5G (Digital Innovation Hub 5G) consortium, a testament to the power of collaboration. This consortium, which includes the National Institute of Telecommunications (the pioneer), the Łódz University of Technology, Ericsson, and Fundingbox, has served as an ecosystem that connects 5G technology suppliers with customers, facilitating collaboration between customer companies, technology providers, and R&D centers.
The then Minister of Development, Jadwiga Emilewicz, stated that the DIH5G was the first hub of its kind in Poland at the time. This hub forms part of the European network of digital innovation hubs and serves as a prime example of the crucial and successful collaboration between government, academia, and industry.
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Practical 5G Use Cases
The practical benefits of 5G are increasingly visible across Poland, not only in cities and rural areas but also in different industries.
5G is being used as a tool and a transformative force in the education and agriculture sectors. In education, it’s sparking a revolution in remote learning. Poland’s schools use 5G to create immersive virtual classrooms and interactive educational experiences. For instance, the Łódź University of Technology has implemented 5G-powered augmented reality (AR) labs, which are enhancing hands-on learning and research capabilities and inspiring a new generation of learners.
5G is revolutionizing farming practices in agriculture, which is crucial for Polish economics. Agritech firms are employing 5G to integrate real-time data from IoT sensors, optimizing crop yields and enhancing resource management. For example, startups like Plantalux are using 5G to monitor plant health and soil conditions with unprecedented precision, potentially increasing yields by up to 25%.
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Catalyzing the Industrial Revolution 4.0
In the Polish industrial sector, 5G is ushering in a new era of automation and efficiency. Factories and production facilities equipped with 5G technology are experiencing a revolution in their operations. Advanced robotics, driven by real-time data and low-latency communication, are now central to manufacturing processes.
Industry 4.0 ushers in the era of the “smart factory.” In these modularly structured smart factories, cyber-physical systems oversee physical processes, generate a digital twin of the physical environment, and enable decentralized decision-making. Leveraging IoT, these cyber-physical systems communicate and collaborate with humans in real time, both within the factory and across the broader range of services utilized by participants in the value chain.
The Polish government’s commitment to fostering this technological revolution is reflected in its substantial investment in 5G infrastructure. An Analysys Mason report, conducted in collaboration with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies, revealed that investing in 5G is expected to generate approximately EUR 4.2 billion in benefits for Poland over the next decade. By 2040, the implementation of a robust 5G network is projected to contribute nearly EUR 17 billion to the national economy.
In addition to national efforts, the European Union plays a crucial role in supporting Poland’s 5G ambitions. Through the Connecting Europe Facility, the EU provides vital funding to bolster digital connectivity and support the development of 5G networks. This collaboration ensures that Poland remains at the forefront of the digital transformation, driving advancements that benefit its economy and citizens.
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Challenges Inhibiting Success
Every journey has challenges; Poland’s 5G journey is no exception. Despite the momentum, the country faces several obstacles that must be overcome with time and effort. Regulatory hurdles, such as spectrum allocation and compliance with EU directives, demand careful navigation.
The Polish government addresses these issues by streamlining spectrum licensing processes and fostering public-private partnerships. Furthermore, cybersecurity and data privacy concerns are managed through robust frameworks like the National Cybersecurity System, ensuring that data integrity is maintained throughout the rollout.
However, Poland’s strength lies in its proactive approach to 5G, which is not just a strategy but a game-changer, positioning it as a regional leader in Central and Eastern Europe. By the end of 2024, Poland’s extensive 5G network will set a benchmark for neighboring countries and bring many benefits, from improved connectivity to enhanced innovation. This leadership role enhances Poland’s international standing, fosters regional collaboration, and drives collective progress in digital technology.
Poland’s journey to 5G exemplifies the transformative impact of next-generation technology, heralding a new era of unprecedented connectivity and innovation.
