The Internet in Poland is available to the bulk of the population, although it is considered one of the most expensive in Europe. About a fifth of Polish citizens use ADSL or FTTH, the most modern technology that is gradually replacing the old ones. The Polish internet is fast and modern.
Top service providers
In terms of the number of IP addresses using IPv4 technology, the country ranks 21st in the world. Connection speeds range from 100 to 1000 Mbps. The service is provided on a contractual basis. The cost ranges from 50 to 100 zlotys per month, often bundled offers that include television are offered.
According to Eurostat, TPSA and Netia will remain the country's largest Internet providers for 2021. However, “big” does not mean “best”: according to statistics and user surveys, the most popular Internet providers in Poland are:
- Landtech Sp. z o.o.
- @Alfanet
- Sekocin.pl
- GoldNet.
There is also WadowiceNET and Solisnet Spółka z o.o., but we will look at the most popular ones, leaving the reader to decide according to his own criteria who is the best Internet provider in Poland.
Landtech Sp. Zo
Provider Landtech Sp. z o.o. focused on providing quality services for both business and private users. Full details are available at landtech.com.pl.
The proposals include:
- installation and maintenance of home networks, including wireless technology;
- organization of VPN networks;
- installation of additional security systems.
The tariff depends on the connection speed, which varies from 4 to 10 Mb / s at the input, and from 1 to 4 Mb / s at the output. The cost includes:
- connection: PLN 129-149;
- subscription fee: 69-129 PLN per month.
The first contract is concluded for six months. Time extension is not limited. The client is obliged to notify the company about the termination of cooperation at least one month in advance.
Provider @Alfanet
@Alfanet provides the highest quality telecom services, including radio internet, digital telephony and television. It is one of the largest providers in Czestochowa, Radomsko and surrounding areas. The company has created its own fiber-optic network with a length of over 300 km, covering the Šlenskie, Opolskie and Lodz Voivodeships.
The input speed of the wired Internet is up to 1000 Mb / s, and the cost of connection is only 1 zloty. Subscription fee:
- wired connection: 37.90 - 57.90 zł / month;
- radio access: 27.90 - 69.90 zł per month.
The company offers to test the speed directly on its website (www.alfanet24.pl).
Sekocin Provider
Sekocin offers customers from Warsaw and the surrounding area:
- Internet at a speed of up to 80 Mbit / s with a connection via its own fiber-optic network with an average delay of only 0.56 ms;
- constant broadband access using the latest 5 GHz wireless technology, which ensures the stability of the Internet at the level of 99.6%;
- VOIP telephony (included in all packages).
Developers of residential complexes and individuals are offered the following rates:
- connection: four packages (light, standard, ultra, premium) at a cost of 50-200 zł (including VAT 23%) depending on the speed (100-200 Mb / s) and 300 zł - with the installation of company equipment;
- monthly fee 50–100 zł.
There are no restrictions on the amount of information transmitted. This is truly unlimited Polish internet. An open-ended contract is concluded with the possibility of suspension for 1 month or more. You can find out all the details on the website www.sekocin.pl.
GoldNet company
The GoldNet provider provides services in the commune of Xaverów, the town of Pabianice and the surrounding area. Clients are offered a wide range of innovative solutions, including the installation of Wi-Fi networks, the laying of fiber-optic cable to the apartment, the connection of television and telephony. Tariffs:
- connection: depending on the turnkey service package and connection speed - from 99 to 199 zł;
- subscription fee: within 45–85 zł per month.
The contract with this regional provider is standard for a year. More information is available on the company's website. The current tariffs depending on service providers and voivodeships can be compared on the website www.dostawcy-internetu.pl.
Mobile Internet in Polish
The country is fully covered by 3G networks, and most mobile operators are actively switching to LTE technologies. The market is replete with operators, and mobile Internet in Poland today is provided by:
- T-mobile
- Play
- Plus
- Orange
- Lycamobile
- Heyah.
The service is provided after the obligatory personal registration of a SIM card on a prepaid or contract basis.
In the first case, a certain amount is credited to the client's mobile account, which is spent on a certain service package. In the second, an agreement is concluded, according to which payment is made from a bank card, account or in cash once a month.
Advantages of "T-Mobile"
The operator's card "T-Mobile" (operated by Deutsche Telekom), as they say, can be found on every corner, even at the post office. The uniqueness of T-Mobile is that it allows the migration of numbers from other operators with the provision of 30 days of free use of the service.
When it comes to internet, the following rates are worth considering:
- "5 days for 5 zloty", considered a hit: 1 GB for surfing the Internet for five days, and without restricting access to films, videos and music videos on a large number of services (including YouTube, Netflix and Vevo ─ on the website www.t- mobile.pl has all the information) without wasting traffic. And for all this you need to pay only 5 zlotys.
- "30 days for 25 PLN": 10 GB of traffic.
- "30 days for 30 PLN": the same 10 GB, but without the limitation on videos, movies, clips, and so on.
Each tariff account is valid for 365 days.
Connection "Orange"
The operator Orange in Poland sells its SIM cards throughout the country in offices and mobile points of sale, shopping centers, kiosks and stalls near bus stops. The starter pack can be purchased for 5 and 10 PLN.
There are several package offers, but the most interesting in terms of mobile internet is Bez limitu do wszystkich ("Unlimited for everyone"): for 25 PLN, a client gets 15 GB of free traffic in Poland for 30 days if he uses the card for at least a year. In the case of a one-time use, the package only includes 10 GB.
Additional traffic can be obtained at the following rates:
- per day: 200 MB - 2 PLN;
- for 30 days: 500 MB –5, 2 GB - PLN 12, 5 GB - PLN 25.
Internet "Plus"
If you transfer the number to Plus, you don't have to pay for services for 3 months. And if others do it on the client's recommendation, he will receive an additional 5 GB for 30 days. There are several favorable tariff offers:
- Prosto na karte includes 1 GB of traffic for 19 grosz (Polish kopeck). Additional 3 GB for 30 days can be purchased for PLN 5.
- “30 PLN / month”: you can get 2 GB, and if you buy in the SmartDOM package, you can also save money - the price here will be 20 PLN.
- "PLN 50 / month" ─ completely unlimited internet plus. In SmartDOM, its cost is PLN 40.
For a complete acquaintance with all the possibilities, it is worth visiting the website www.plus.pl.
What is good about "Play"
You can buy a Play operator card for PLN 5-9 in shopping centers, RUSH newsstands near bus stops. You can find out about current package offers and terms of service on the company's website www.play.pl.
The following are interesting:
- Individual Solo package: 10 GB of internet for 25 PLN for 30 days. Additional internet packages for 600 MB, 2 GB and 6 GB are purchased for 5, 9 and 20 zlotys, respectively.
- The Rodzina family plan allows a group of users (up to 8 people) to use the general package; management (replenishment of the account and connection / disconnection of services) is carried out by the conditional administrator, to whom the package is issued. Formation of a group is possible only with the help of the Play 24 application. In this case, any member can order additional services. The package costs PLN 25 per month and includes unlimited internet (the speed decreases after 15 GB of traffic).
Polish search engines
Google is the most popular search engine in Poland. Almost 95% of Poles' requests go through this service.However, the number of local online resources is increasing, and it is necessary for a tourist leaving for work or permanent residence to get an idea of them.
The main search engines in Poland:
- Wirtualna Polska or "Virtual Poland" (www.wp.pl). One of the oldest resources using the Google engine. As options, it allows you to create a mailbox, watch live TV programs, receive information about the weather, purchases / sales of currencies, use site hosting and much more.
- Onet.pl. Similar to the first, also built on Google, but Onet's main focus is on news.
- Interia.pl. It also uses Google search, allows you to create a mailbox, get acquainted with current news from the field of politics, economics, public life, sports, culture.
The only Polish search engine in Russian is the same Google.pl. There are no browsers like Russian Yandex in the republic.
In addition to search engines, many application services are used:
- otomoto.pl is an online platform for advertisements for the sale of cars and motorcycles.
- o2.pl ─ information and entertainment portal with the possibility of registering free mail;
- mbank.com.pl - the site of the country's only virtual bank;
- goldenline.pl - job search;
- wrzuta.pl - a service for exchanging photos, videos and other media materials;
- filmweb.pl - a portal for movie lovers with a huge database of films, stories and biographies of actors, directors, and so on;
- pudelek.pl - blog of news and gossip from the world of cinema, music and show business;
- allegro.pl and ceneo.pl - sites for advertisements for sale;
- nk.pl is a social network ─ analogue of Russian Odnoklassniki.
Conclusion
It is necessary to choose a Polish Internet provider taking into account not only tariffs and volumes of free traffic. It should be borne in mind that the best conditions are offered under a contract or agreement, which means that the length of stay in the country will have to be taken into account. In addition, the country is divided between wire internet providers. The choice will be limited.
For a tourist who has come for several days, it makes sense to buy a local card with an inexpensive prepaid tariff or use a Russian one. And don't forget about Wi-Fi coverage: you can always find free access points at the airport, hotel or restaurant.
