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December 16, 2009
CenterNet, a new mobile network player in Poland, is off to a strong start. Having launched commercial service in May 2009, when it joined the ranks of four MNOs and 14 MVNOs, it continues to roll out new initiatives and slice new segments out of the market. (For Pyramid Research’s estimates of subscriber growth by operator, see our Mobile Operator KPI Forecasts.)
CenterNet, which already has a selection of large-button handsets, recently added a phone that targets concerned or overprotective parents (see exhibit). Called fonek, the phone is for use by children aged 4-8 and is available in baby blue and pink; it is sold for zl 299 ($90) without a SIM lock. The fonek not only allows parents to control the calls their child is receiving and making, it also lets them listen to the child’s surroundings without its knowledge. Another feature is that parents can check whether the child has safely reached a destination such as a school or home — they simply receive an SMS that says “Home.”
Handsets offered by CenterNet
 In a recent interview, CenterNet CEO Grzegorz Tomczyk said the MNO is getting ready for LTE and deploying equipment. It plans to broaden its audience by targeting businesses, initially other companies affiliated with the NFI Midas Investment Fund, a private equity firm that is the largest shareholder in CenterNet. It is also launching two new brands: one for people interested in fishing, in partnership with portal Rybobranie.pl, and another for people who enjoy extreme sports and racing, which will be associated with Extreme, a television channel and clothing brand.
Previously CenterNet has launched the wRodzinie (“in the family”) brand, together with Lux Veritatis, a foundation of influential clergyman Tadeusz Rydzyk. The exclusively prepaid service has received a lot of attention, in part because its launch in July 2009 coincided with the large annual Catholic pilgrimige to the Jasna Gora Monastery, in part because it was energetically promoted by ex-prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the Law and Order party and brother of the current president of Poland. Using a tailored tariff as well as a range of handsets with clear displays and large buttons, wRodzinie targets older and religious people. A starter package costing zl 20 ($6) is valid for a year and comes with free minutes for calling Radio Maryja and TV Trwam, two media outlets popular with pious Poles.
— Sylwia Boguszewska, Analyst
Related content:
Poland: Competition Heating Up as Alternative Operators Come of Age
Country Intelligence Report published September 2009
Regulatory measures are fostering a more competitive market in Poland; as a result, Pyramid Research expects the Polish telecom market to show the second fastest growth in CEE. The market generated Zl 39.2bn ($16.3bn) in service revenue in 2008, a 5.5% year-on-year increase in local currency terms. This Country Intelligence Report analyzes Poland’s communications, media and technology industries, including key trends, regulatory pressures and the competitive landscape, making it an excellent complement to our Forecast products.
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Our Fixed Operator Market Share Forecast products provide a complete picture of wireline voice and data communications in each of eight markets in Central & Eastern Europe. The Excel output includes five years of historical data and five years of market projections for metrics such as fixed lines, voice telephony, VoIP, circuit-switched lines, ARPM, narrowband, broadband, Internet accounts, fiber, DSL, cable and revenue — most of them broken down for the mobile operators in the respective markets. We believe our Fixed Operator Market Share Forecasts are superior because they capture granular data gathered through extensive field research and use a thorough methodology consistently applied to all markets.
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