Migrancki Portal Wiedzy

In order to install the landline telephone, beside buying a phone, one has to conclude a contract for the supply of telecommunications services with one of the operators offering this service, such as Netia and Telecommunications Poland. Many operators, especially in big cities (e.g.  Aster, UPC, Vectra and the like), offer integrated services: landline telephone, Internet and the cable TV. One can also choose only one of them. However combining them is more justified from the economic point of view.

Phones numbers in Poland

The numbers of the landline telephones in Poland consist of 7 digits, e.g. 6XX XX XX. But those numbers have to by preceded by a two-digit area code. The numbers of mobile phones consist of 9 digits, e.g. 5XX XXX XXX, etc.

When calling to a mobile phone from a mobile phone, the only thing one has to do is to dial 9 digits. The number could also be preceded by the area code for Poland, which is  +48. When calling from a mobile phone/landline telephone to a landline telephone, the number of the person you call has to be preceded by the two-digit area code, unique for different zones  (e.g. 22, 58, 61). Poland is divided into numbering zones, each of which has a different area code. Until 30 September 2009, one had to dial '0' prefix preceding the area code when calling a landline telephone, but that regulation was changed, according to the Minister of Infrastructure Regulation of 28 February 2008 on the national numbering plan for public telephone network (Journal of Laws of 2008 No 52, pos. 307, as amended.).

The list of the areas and their area codes

When calling from a landline telephone to a mobile phone you have to precede the number of a mobile phone with the '0' digit, e.g. 0 5XX XXX XXX

Calls made from landline telephones to mobile phones are significantly more expensive than call from landline telephone to landline telephone. The cheapest calls are the local ones, zonal, and those made from a mobile phone to a mobile phone that uses the same operator. The most expensive are the international calls. However there are some operators, who offer cheap international calls.

One of them is Energis Poland Ltd, that offers cheap international calls made from the landline telephone, as a part of 'my number' offer. The cost is 0.35PLN per minute, to countries such as: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China (including mobile phones), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Spain, Netherlands, Hong Kong (including mobile phones), Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Germany, Norway, New Zeeland, Peru, Portugal, Russia, San Marino (including mobile phones), Singapore (including mobile phones), Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, USA (including mobile phones), Hungary, Great Britain and Italy.

An offer similar to that one can be found on the website (0.35 PLN per minute of call with chosen countries). It is also worth checking the full price list, because one may find there the comparison of costs of calls to dozens of chosen countries. The comparison comprises offers by Tele Gadka and Telecommunications Poland. It also covers e.g. prices of calls to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia (including mobile phones), Kyrgyzstan (including mobile phones), Latvia and Lithuania, Moldavia, Russia (including mobile phones), Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on mobile phones.

Another way of getting cheap international calls is to buy special call cards at the post, thanks to which it is possible to make cheap international calls. The price of such a card is usually 10-50 PLN. Usually after buying the card, you have to call the specific number provided by the operator and enter the PIN code from the card. The card you can are e.g. Papuga, TeleRabat, Polemika, Ploteczka, Telepin.

In use of Papuga card you can call to a Russian landline telephone for 0.27 PLN/minute, Russian mobile phone 1.15PLN/minute, Ukraine, respectively, 0.77PLN/minute and 1.51PLN/minute, Belarus 1.21PLN/minute and 1.51PLN/minute, Vietnam 1.17PLN/minute and 3.21PLN/minute, China 0.51PLN/minute and 1.51PLN/minute.

Using the Telepin card, you can call Belarus landline telephone for 1.19PLN/minute and a mobile phone for 1.49PLN/minute, Chinese landline telephone for 0.49PLN/minute and 1.49PLN/minute to a mobile phone.

Is it possible to conclude a contract for the supply of telecommunications services in a place you rent, without the knowledge of the landlord?

According to the article 684 of the Civil Code (refer to the table below), a foreigner who rents an apartment does not have to obtain the owner's permission to install a landline telephone or the Internet in that place. However good manners suggest to inform the owner about that fact.