Booming sales point to 10 million mobile phone users by year's end

The number of mobile phone owners in Poland is likely to reach 10 million by the end of the year, according to the Prawo i Gospodarka daily. Since the beginning of 2001, the country's three domestic mobile phone operators, PTK Centertel (PTK), Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC) and Polkomtel, have reported a 2.32 million rise in the number of their subscribers. Despite the poor economic situation and a slight fall in sales in the third quarter, the operators remain optimistic, since the last three months is regarded as the period of highest sales. According to data quoted by Prawo i Gospodarka, PTK is leading the charge, with 875.000 new subscribers so far this year. According to PTK spokesman Jacek Kalinowski, the company is confident that its mobile phone network Idea will gain some 100.000 new users each month for the remainder of this year. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1, 2) P.J.