EU membership
Mr. John Eastick, finance director,Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa
We expect only positive effects from EU Membership. Firstly, there will be a more predictable regulatory environment, which will help us make long-term investment decisions with confidence. Secondly, the opportunities from increased trade and EU funding to stimulate our customers' businesses should produce higher demand for our services.
Jarosław Mikos, chief executive, Energis
The effects of Polish accession to the EU will consist of two elements. Polish companies who want to be competitive in the EU market will have to make some investments in telecommunications and IT. Better telecommunication infrastructure will bring faster information transfer and quicker decisions. A company that decides to invest in good, cost-effective communication will improve its efficiency.
On the other hand, accession will lower the investment risk. European companies will be more comfortable investing here. Investors will need a good telecommunication and IT infrastructure to communicate with the headquarters and others branches. Energis is already prepared to provide high quality and stable international voice and IP solutions.
Tomasz Bochenek, general manager, Microsoft
I don't see any immediate impact of accession on technology spending. What is relevant at the moment is economic growth. I think that in the short term, the IT market will grow in line with the growth of the economy as a whole.
I have noticed that businesses are increasingly interested in upgrading and replacing their systems because of the improving economic climate. But that has no direct relation to accession. Obviously, in the longer term I see a great deal of influence on market development. Structural funds will have some effect, but what is even more important is that they will create a better climate for technology spending.
Seeing the success of those who benefited from these funds, other companies will also invest. I expect the EU to have a generally positive influence on the economy and IT market, but mostly it will be indirect. It will not be through handouts or specific institutional changes, but through a 'feel good' factor among businesses.
Lars Svensson, president, Ericsson Sp. z o.o.
I am always an optimist. The positives include getting products more easily from vendors to the fact that it will be easier for local operators to handle complex products as a part of the EU. Also, we travel a lot. We constantly have 20 to 30 people working abroad. That process will be easier, because of the opening up of borders. On the technology side, we have been waiting for third-generation (3G) mobile technology for some time in Poland. In other countries, we have been training our Poland-based staff in 3G technology to get ready for when it does take hold here. That process would also be facilitated by the EU's common market.
We expect only positive effects from EU Membership. Firstly, there will be a more predictable regulatory environment, which will help us make long-term investment decisions with confidence. Secondly, the opportunities from increased trade and EU funding to stimulate our customers' businesses should produce higher demand for our services.
Jarosław Mikos, chief executive, Energis
The effects of Polish accession to the EU will consist of two elements. Polish companies who want to be competitive in the EU market will have to make some investments in telecommunications and IT. Better telecommunication infrastructure will bring faster information transfer and quicker decisions. A company that decides to invest in good, cost-effective communication will improve its efficiency.
On the other hand, accession will lower the investment risk. European companies will be more comfortable investing here. Investors will need a good telecommunication and IT infrastructure to communicate with the headquarters and others branches. Energis is already prepared to provide high quality and stable international voice and IP solutions.
Tomasz Bochenek, general manager, Microsoft
I don't see any immediate impact of accession on technology spending. What is relevant at the moment is economic growth. I think that in the short term, the IT market will grow in line with the growth of the economy as a whole.
I have noticed that businesses are increasingly interested in upgrading and replacing their systems because of the improving economic climate. But that has no direct relation to accession. Obviously, in the longer term I see a great deal of influence on market development. Structural funds will have some effect, but what is even more important is that they will create a better climate for technology spending.
Seeing the success of those who benefited from these funds, other companies will also invest. I expect the EU to have a generally positive influence on the economy and IT market, but mostly it will be indirect. It will not be through handouts or specific institutional changes, but through a 'feel good' factor among businesses.
Lars Svensson, president, Ericsson Sp. z o.o.
I am always an optimist. The positives include getting products more easily from vendors to the fact that it will be easier for local operators to handle complex products as a part of the EU. Also, we travel a lot. We constantly have 20 to 30 people working abroad. That process will be easier, because of the opening up of borders. On the technology side, we have been waiting for third-generation (3G) mobile technology for some time in Poland. In other countries, we have been training our Poland-based staff in 3G technology to get ready for when it does take hold here. That process would also be facilitated by the EU's common market.
