The cost of making making local phone calls set to rise

Poland's phone tariffs are among the highest of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The cost of making an international phone call in Poland is higher than in most other European counties. However, peak-time local calls are twice as cheap as any other European tariff. Now, state-owned Telekomikacja Polska S.A. (TPSA) is attempting to balance its tariffs. In general, local phone calls are not profitable for TPSA, apart from the Warsaw and Katowice areas. Thus, TPSA says it will have to increase the cost of local phone calls and also the cost of renting a line, which is three times lower than in other European countries. On a more optimistic tone, the cost of connecting to the internet may drop by about 30% in September. (Rzeczpospolita, June 24-25, page B1) A.D.