International consortium Polkomtel started Global System for Mobile communications cellular service in Poland just seven months after receiving its license and two weeks after its key competitor, Polska Telefonica Cyfrowa, introduced GSM service.
Polkomtel, operating as Plus GSM, launched service in Warsaw and is expected to expand into 27 major cities by the end of the year, covering about 40 percent of the country’s nearly 40 million people, said AirTouch Communications Inc. The San Francisco-based wireless company is 19.25 percent owner and lead technical partner in Plus GSM.
AirTouch International head Arun Sarin said Poland’s fast-growing economy and low penetration rates-less than 1 percent for cellular service and 15 percent for landline service-make the country an opportune market.
Poland’s existing analog operator, Centertel, operates a five-year-old Nordic Mobile Telephone 450 network with about 125,000 users.
Tele Danmark, Polish oil refinery Petrochemia Plock, copper mining company KGHM Polska Miedz and national electric company Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne are other major partners in Plus GSM.
Nokia Corp. is providing equipment for Plus GSM, which is expected to have more than 300 base stations and three switching centers operating by the end of the year. Nokia has offices in Warsaw and several other Polish cities, said AirTouch.
Plus GSM offers customers a choice between three rate plans. Available services include voice mail and fax and data transmission capability.
Doing business as Era GSM, Polska Telefonica Cyfrowa is an international venture of which U S West International is a 22.5 percent partner. Era GSM’s service began in mid-September. Era GSM customers also are able to select from three price plans.
To activate Plus GSM service, a new subscriber will be charged about $180, said a Polkomtel source. Monthly fees are about $12, $27 and $52, depending on the plan. Airtime rates range from about 17 cents per minute for off peak on the highest use plan to 64 cents per minute peak time on the lowest cost monthly plan.
Alan Thompson of U S West International in London said Era charges about $230 service activation, and $14, $32 or $46 per month for the basic, standard and premium packages, respectively. Airtime charges vary between 12 cents and 60 cents. Thompson said handset prices will vary by model, from $360 to $720 including value added tax, and are not subsidized. In addition, Era customers can receive calling party pays service.
Plus GSM is wrapping up roaming agreements with operators in about eight other European countries. Era GSM allows its subscribers to roam in Germany and Spain and soon plans to offer roaming service in a handful of other countries.
Centertel is owned 51 percent by state telephone company Telekomunikacja Polska and 24.5 percent each by Ameritech International and France Telecom Group.
