Pilicka Telefonia marks growth with $80 ml. investment, targets expansion

Local telephone operator Pilicka Telefonia (PT) has acquired 25,000 subscribers since 1998, making the company the fifth largest among independent telecom companies on the Polish market. By the end of 2000 the company will have invested $65 million, and in the course of 18 subsequent months plans to invest an additional $80 million. "These results are quite good, but of course could be improved. The most significant barriers for development of local operators are adverse conditions created by a market regulator, since in many cases the market is heavily supporting a national operator, and thus not independent players," said PT president Gerald Rhen. The company estimates it will have an additional 2,000 subscribers by the end of the year, increasing to 35,000 in 2001. "We plan expansion, but I cannot reveal in which regions," said Gerald Rhen. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9)