Getting Connected

In order to remain in the loop, setting up your phone, mobile and Internet connections will be a top item on your to-do list. Poland’s communications network, after years of extensive restructuring, is now of a high standard with well-developed services. The dominant national telecommunications provider is Telekomunikacja Polska (TP), but other independent fixed-line operators also service the country, including Netia, Aster and Dialog. Choose your provider carefully, as different rates apply for every basic service type (city-wide, domestic and international calls) and for additional services. Telephone booths have all but disappeared since mobile phones became de rigueur, but the ones still standing are operated by TP or Netia. TP phones accept only phone cards with 15, 30 or 60 “impulses”, which can be bought at newsstands, kiosks and petrol stations. Netia booths are coin-operated, with local calls costing approximately 50 groszy for two minutes during the day or one zloty per minute for intercity calls. The area code for Warsaw is 22.

Mobile phones:

Poles are a very mobile-savvy bunch, with the vast majority of the population owning at least one mobile phone (otherwise known as komorka, meaning cellular). The country’s wireless capabilities function on the GSM (Global System of Mobiles) network, which is the public standard in Europe, North America, Australia and most Asian countries. If you bring your own mobile, check with your service provider before you leave home that they have a roaming agreement with a local counterpart. A much more cost-efficient method is to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card from any newsstand or specialised shop and have your phone unlocked if necessary. To purchase a contract deal, which is often cheaper than prepaid plans, you’ll need a residency card. The four main mobile phone operators in Poland are Era, Play, Plus GSM and Orange, which was recently bought out by T-Mobile. Before you choose a provider or plan, think about your calling habits and carefully compare the rates for services (roaming, texting, international calling).

Internet:

Internet use and services have grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years. The simplest and fastest way to get connected is to purchase a ready-to-use package from a mobile phone operator (Era and Play are highly recommended) which contains a pre-paid SIM card with a modem for your computer. If your new home needs to be wired, contact one of the many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) by phone or go to their customer service points. Once you’ve placed the order, the provider will check the connection possibilities at your location and set up the installation appointment in a few days. Many of the leading telecom companies, such as Aster, Netia and UPC, are multiple-service providers, offering broadband Internet, television, mobile and fixed-line connections, so consider buying an all-in-one package to have everything installed at once. Routers are either included or can be purchased separately in large computer stores for about PLN100-250. If you don’t need constant connectivity, using the free WI-Fi hotspots in cafes, bars or hotels is a great way to make sure you get out and about in the city.

Post and courier services:

Poland’s national postal service, Poczta Polska, has an absolute monopoly in the market for sending letters weighing less than 50 grams. The nationwide network of post offices provides basic postal services in addition to minor banking and financial services: you can pay utility bills or top up your travel card, and Polish pensioners often collect their monthly pension here. They’re generally open Monday-Friday, 9am6pm, with some open for half a day on Saturdays. The quality of postal service is a frequent source of grumbling among the locals. With the over-bureaucratic system and understaffed offices, queueing can take a long time and packages, especially ones filled with valuables or sent from overseas, have a tendency to disappear. To look up their list of services and prices, visit www.poczta-polska.pl. A faster and safer way to send express shipments or precious packages is to use a private courier company such as DHL (www.dhl.com.pl), FedEx (www.fedex.com/pl), TNT Express (www.tnt. com/express/pl_pl/site/home.html) or UPS (www.ups.com/content/pl/en/index. jsx).

Media:

In order to be clued in to current affairs and activities and events happening in the city, you may want to explore the local media. Warsaw
has a number of English-language magazines catering to both general and special interests, plus a wealth of websites to keep you up to date online.

Print publications:

The longest-running English-language weekly newspaper is the Warsaw Voice (www.warsawvoice.pl), which covers business, economics and culture in Poland and central Europe. If you’re after more business, economic and political news, check out the weekly Warsaw Business Journal (www.wbj.pl) or the monthly Eurobuild CEE (www.eurobuildcee.com), which contains articles and briefs on the regional real estate market. A number of glossy magazines with leisure, travel and culture-focused content appear in Warsaw, including the monthly Warsaw Insider (www.warsawinsider. pl) and In Your Pocket (www.inyourpocket.com), which also has extensive listings for accommodations, dining out and entertainment. All of these publications are available at most major news agents, such as Empik and Relay, in addition to hotels, restaurants, bars and other meeting points.

Useful websites:

There’s an ever-expanding range of web-based resources focusing on Warsaw, featuring information for first-time visitors as well as in-the-know expatriates. Below is a collection of useful websites, blogs and expat forums that offer an abundance of tips for concerts, hotels and both wellknown and off-the-radar attractions, as well as restaurant reviews and the occasional interesting article on Polish culture.

www.um.warszawa.pl/en
This official website of the Polish capital has a detailed catalogue of the city’s touristic and cultural offerings and loads of handy information on administrative and business issues.

www.warsaw-life.com
This long-standing site showcases articles on Polish culture and history, in addition to hotel, restaurant, bar and club listings. They also have a free downloadable city guide and a print version containing a city map and useful listings available in hotels and tourist information points.

www.gowarsaw.eu
Extensive information on housing, leisure, culture, touristic blockbusters, a business and medical directory and many other nuggets of local knowledge.

www.polishforums.com/www.expats-in-poland.com
Aiming to ease your transition into Poland, these two expat forums serve up useful information on every aspect of Warsaw life and also host an open forum to post any questions
.
www.easyexpat.com/en/warsaw.htm
This site gives a wealth of information for expatriates planning to move or already living in Warsaw, from education to accommodation, health services to employment issues.

www.polandian.com
This collaborative blog takes a look at the good, the bad and the quirky side of Poland, as told by a group of local expats.

www.tastingpoland.com
This website gives an overview of Poland culinary traditions, spiked with a bunch of recipes, articles and images of all things edible and drinkable.