Adriana Sas
Research expert covering the Polish market
Mobile internet usage in Poland - statistics & facts
At the end of 2023, the telecommunications landscape in Poland presented an impressive picture, characterized by the presence of 52.4 million active SIM cards. This figure highlights the extensive adoption of mobile technology across the nation. With a penetration rate of mobile telephony services reaching nearly 139 percent, subscribers often own multiple SIM cards, reflecting a growing trend toward dual-SIM usage and prepaid plans.
Overall, the end of 2022 illustrated a dynamic shift in how Poles engage with digital services, emphasizing a solid mobile-centric approach. Although generic products, such as applications, continue to dominate the landscape of online smartphone activities, recent studies reveal that over 70 percent of all smartphone users engage in essential functions such as web browsing, emailing, social networking, and instant messaging. These activities represent users' core interactions with their devices, highlighting smartphones' fundamental role in facilitating communication and information access.
Furthermore, data transmission within mobile networks has emerged as one of the fastest-growing services in recent years, reflecting the increasing reliance on mobile connectivity. In 2023 alone, a staggering 9.6 million terabytes (TB) of data were transmitted through mobile telephony. This marked an impressive increase of 20 percent compared to the previous year, underscoring the accelerating pace of data consumption and the ongoing evolution of mobile technology.
In 2023, revenue from mobile telephony services exceeded 15 billion zloty, while the total value of the internet access industry approached 10.3 billion zloty. Operators' market share in the mobile access sector remained largely unchanged compared to 2020. Orange Polska continued to lead the market, holding one-fourth of it. However, Play emerged as the top operator regarding average upload speed, while T-Mobile recorded the highest download speed, and Orange exhibited the lowest mobile ping value.
The European Commission has mandated that all EU member states achieve widespread coverage of 5G technology by 2025. This initiative aims to enhance digital services, stimulate economic growth, and improve Polish citizens' overall quality of life.
Mobile internet user experience
A significant portion of internet users—approximately one-fourth—utilize personal computers to access the internet. However, mobile devices have established themselves as the primary connectivity means for most people in Poland. Nearly 71 percent of internet users prefer accessing the web through mobile devices, primarily smartphones. This preference highlights the growing reliance on mobile technology for everyday activities, including social networking, online shopping, and various forms of communication. While tablets are available, they are considerably less favored, suggesting that smartphones are the primary personal device for most consumers.Overall, the end of 2022 illustrated a dynamic shift in how Poles engage with digital services, emphasizing a solid mobile-centric approach. Although generic products, such as applications, continue to dominate the landscape of online smartphone activities, recent studies reveal that over 70 percent of all smartphone users engage in essential functions such as web browsing, emailing, social networking, and instant messaging. These activities represent users' core interactions with their devices, highlighting smartphones' fundamental role in facilitating communication and information access.
Furthermore, data transmission within mobile networks has emerged as one of the fastest-growing services in recent years, reflecting the increasing reliance on mobile connectivity. In 2023 alone, a staggering 9.6 million terabytes (TB) of data were transmitted through mobile telephony. This marked an impressive increase of 20 percent compared to the previous year, underscoring the accelerating pace of data consumption and the ongoing evolution of mobile technology.
Mobile internet providers and network performance
At the end of 2023, Poland had nearly nine million mobile internet subscribers, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year. The country's mobile internet penetration rate reached nearly 24 percent of the population using dedicated mobile access through modems, cards, and keys.In 2023, revenue from mobile telephony services exceeded 15 billion zloty, while the total value of the internet access industry approached 10.3 billion zloty. Operators' market share in the mobile access sector remained largely unchanged compared to 2020. Orange Polska continued to lead the market, holding one-fourth of it. However, Play emerged as the top operator regarding average upload speed, while T-Mobile recorded the highest download speed, and Orange exhibited the lowest mobile ping value.
The European Commission has mandated that all EU member states achieve widespread coverage of 5G technology by 2025. This initiative aims to enhance digital services, stimulate economic growth, and improve Polish citizens' overall quality of life.
