[REVISION HISTORY]

Poland telecom network upgrades and 3G phase-out

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-19 10:04 UTC → 2026-08-25 04:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Polish operators continue to expand 5G, adding over 1,000 new base stations annually and reaching about 50,000 sites covering roughly 98% of the country. The industry association SIT has published indicative lease rates for landowners: 600–1,800 zł per month for rural or agricultural plots, 1,200–3,000 zł in small towns and suburbs, and 2,000–4,800 zł for rooftop or other premises in major city centres such as Warsaw. Contracts typically run 10–30 years and are indexed to inflation, offering a stable long‑term income stream; higher rates in the Mazovian region reflect permit‑availability challenges. The phased 3G shutdown proceeds as scheduled, with a complete industry-wide termination planned for the end of 2026. T‑Mobile and Orange have already completed their shutdowns. Play is currently implementing a gradual phase-out across various locations, and Plus is preparing to transition its frequencies. The freed 900 MHz and 2100 MHz spectrum will be repurposed for 4G/LTE and 5G to provide faster internet and more efficient bandwidth usage. Operators warn that hundreds of thousands of older devices supporting only 3G risk losing mobile data access, affecting maps, mobile banking, and data-heavy apps. While voice and SMS will remain functional, users must ensure devices support LTE and VoLTE (Voice over LTE) to avoid reverting to 2G, which can result in longer connection times and reduced call quality. Additionally, older SIM cards may require replacement. Piotr Szymanowski, deputy director of B2C sales at Plus, has urged customers to verify device compatibility to avoid digital exclusion. Simultaneously, the government and operators promote fiber‑to‑the‑home broadband, delivering speeds from 1 Gb/s up to 10 Gb/s. In mid-2026, operator Plus accelerated its infrastructure rollout, completing 160 projects between July 3 and August 4, targeting improved connectivity in smaller towns and rural areas.

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