Overview 

The Polish Information Technology Market (in $ Millions) 

Exchange rates: 2020 $1=3.95 pln; 2021 $1=3.87 pln; 2022 $1 = 4.59 (H1 estimate)
Source: Fitch Solutions Country Industry Reports, Commerce Research Library

According to Fitch Solutions Poland Information Technology Report, in 2023, total information technology (IT) expenditures in Poland is estimated to grow by 12.4 percent in local currency, reaching a value of $29.4 billion. Due to substantial fluctuation in the Polish currency, the values calculated in USD differ from those in the Polish currency. COVID-19 had a negative impact on the overall sector’s performance as many projects were postponed and companies reduced their investment plans. At the same time, the pandemic boosted the sales of notebooks and tablets as well as software and services enabling remote working, such as collaboration software tools, virtualization, cybersecurity, and remote asset management. Lockdowns also caused an unprecedented increase in interest in gaming, streaming services, and e-commerce. As a result of harsh competition, e-commerce providers focused on enhancing their offers and introducing tools, often using artificial intelligence, which allow them to retain current and attract new customers.

The IT industry has also been affected by the war in Ukraine, with supply chains being disrupted. Since February 2022, Poland has become one of the most cyber attacked EU countries. Cybercrimes are becoming a threat not only for official government websites that were hacked multiple times this year, but also for private companies. According to a KPMG report called “Cybersecurity Barometer,” 58 percent of companies reported at least one cybersecurity incident in 2022.

Despite supply chain turbulences and an economic slowdown combined with high inflation, the forecast for the entire sector remains positive, although it varies greatly depending on the market segment. The hardware segment is expected to cool, as it becomes modestly saturated. Cloud services are growing seven times faster than the overall IT market. Cloud services are already used by 25 percent of all companies, mainly in retail, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), transportation, and logistics sectors. With 19 percent growth, the cloud segment reached a value of $579 million in 2021 and $680 million in 2022 (according to estimations). In 2021, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and several other international and local market players made major investments in local data centers in Poland. In 2023, Palo Alto announced launch of their cloud location in Poland. Thus, by 2026 Poland might become one of leading colocation data center hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2023, Intel announced a major investment plan of a semiconductor integration and testing facility in Poland with an estimated value of $4.6 billion as part of its efforts to create a more resilient semiconductor supply chain in Europe.

It is difficult to evaluate the total value of U.S. exports of IT products, software, and services to Poland. Poland is ranked low as the destination country for certain Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HS or HTS) categories, such as HS 8471 automatic data processing machines and electronic integrated circuit and micro assembly related product categories. However, these statistics do not reflect the actual value of all U.S. exports to Poland, as many exporters first ship their products to regional hubs and then distribute them to other European countries. Despite the numbers, U.S. technologies and products are highly valued and well received in Poland. There is a strong demand for U.S. products and services across all segments.

At the end of 2022, the IT market comprised an estimated 3.5 percent of Poland’s GDP and is expected to reach 4.5 percent in 2025. Government expenditures for IT are estimated at only 2.2 percent of Poland’s GDP but they continue to be greatly supplemented by EU funding, which can account for up to 85 percent of a project’s actual value. Poland’s National Recovery Plan, approved by the EU in June 2022, anticipates $3.4 billion for digital development projects, although proceeds from this program are under the EU scrutiny and may be delayed. IT projects could also benefit from regional development funds and other EU programs.

Market development is driven by the digitization strategies of the public and business sectors and the need to invest in labor-saving or productivity maximizing solutions. Services are driving sales growth, including cloud computing services, software-as-a-service, and infrastructure and platform services, which are the key trends in the enterprise market. Trends such as technological integration, streamlined access to services, cloud computing, IT security, and the internet of things (IoT) reflect major market opportunities for U.S. suppliers.

According to the latest Report of European Commission on Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), Poland ranks as 24 out of 27 European Union countries in terms of capital human in digital society. As the report states, the main issue is related to digital skills and to insufficient integration of digital technologies in companies. Even though 51 percent of companies recognize the importance of digital transformation in their organizations, the majority do not plan to increase investments in this area in the coming months.

The Polish market is highly competitive, with most global and international technology players having a direct presence in the country and many specialized domestic companies. A vast majority (90 percent) of local IT companies are small and frequently merge or form alliances when working on larger projects.

U.S. suppliers of IT services interested in entering the Polish market should consider working with Polish partners, as Polish project sponsors usually mandate that support be available locally and in the Polish language.

Poland is often perceived as a thriving hub for technology and innovation and, according to Emerging Europe Future of IT report, Poland was one of three most competitive markets for the IT industry in Central and Eastern Europe in 2023.

Telecommunications services market

According to the Report on the State of Telecommunications Access published by Office of Telecommunications, the value of the telecommunications services market in 2022 reached $10.5 billion and grew by 1.5 percent compared to 2021. Interest in fixed telephony declined, but the market of bundled services (such as phones plus Internet) grew by 7.2 percent. The development of broadband internet accelerated during the pandemic. Currently internet penetration equals 88.4 percent of Polish households. In 2022, 85 percent of people aged 16-74 use the Internet daily.

Poland has not yet assigned any harmonized radio spectrum for 5G deployment. After cancellation of the first tender for 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies in mid-2020, 5G deployment was put on hold and tenders were launched again in December 2022. The government wants to establish a wholesale operator in the 700 MHz band and to create a Strategic Communications Operator (probably company Exatel), a state-owned entity that would provide telecommunications services to the public administration. In the meantime, mobile operators have started 5G pilot projects and offer 5G services based on frequencies available to them. Major players on the market that will probably participate in the auction are Orange, Play, T-Mobile, and Polkomtel.

Local regulations and public institutions

The public sector’s digital technology policy and Poland’s IT development plans are the responsibility of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, which is also in charge of cybersecurity, as well as 5G development plans. GovTech Poland coordinates the digital development strategy and technology developments for the public sector, although individual ministries or institutions are also responsible for projects in their specialty areas.

In 2022, the law for National Data Processing Centre entered into force, stipulating that three fiber-linked data centers would be constructed in 2024-2026.

Poland is also in the process of adopting the amendment to the law on the National Cybersecurity System which will possibly allow the exclusion of high-risk providers from the construction of a telecommunications network and establishes a strategic security network operator that will probably be Polish national company Exatel.

In 2023, Poland adopted laws on electronic equipment (free laptops) that will be delivered to successive fourth graders every year, as well as to schoolteachers. Also in 2023, the government began recruitment for the “Digital Voivodeship” program, funded by EU, in which local offices will be able to apply for $217,000 for digitization and cybersecurity projects in their voivodeship.

Leading Sub-Sectors   

The highest value for software and services solutions is in the ICT industry. The demand is generated by the software development outsourcing industry, R&D activities, data center expansions, cloud service rollouts, and adoption for automation solutions for digital processes. Other principal sectors investing in IT are manufacturing, the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, retail, and logistics, as well as financial and professional services, followed by the public administration projects. Other sub-sectors which are expected to increase their IT investments are the energy, telecommunications, and construction sectors. Future investments are dependent on the availability and accessibility of new technologies, as well as the regulations imposed upon them.

The technologies with greatest growth potential include cloud computing, cybersecurity, and IoT, which are implemented in both the public and the private sectors. Leaders in specialized software include software for vertical markets, internet, and e-commerce solutions, specifically in IT security.

Opportunities   

Digital transformation is one of five priorities set in the National Development Plan and will benefit from the EU Recovery Funding. Opportunities in the public sector include investments in e-administration, including integration of e-services with the land and mortgage register system, open government, as well as training and other activities aimed at increasing digital literacy in Poland. The top digital development priorities of Poland’s current government are cybersecurity, education, e-health, and infrastructure.

The best opportunities in technology include:

• Cybersecurity  
• Cloud  
• Internet of things (IoT)
• 5G      

Resources   

• Ministry of Digital Affairs
• UKE – Office of Electronic Communication
• GovTech Poland
• Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Digital Economy Department v
• PIIT – Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications  
• KIGEiT – the National Chamber of Electronics and Telecommunications  
• PIKE – Polish Chamber of Electronic Communication  
• NCBiR – The National Center for Research and Developmen   

Trade events   

• Impact CEE, May 15-16, 2024, Poznan, Central-European event dedicated to innovations and economic development.
• Advanced Threat Summit, November 22-24, 2023, Warsaw.

Contacts for Marketing and Advertisement   

Magazines: IT Reseller, ElektronikaB2B, Automatyka B2B

IDG Publications: ComputerWorld, PC World and yearly report on Polish IT market ComputerWorld Top 200. IDG also organizes technology conferences, e-seminars, and debates, and offers expert market research as well as content and email marketing services.

PMR Research - market research, marketing, and specialized market entry services     

For more information about the IT industry sector, please contact:    

U.S. Commercial Service Poland
Commercial Specialist: Joanna Bereza
E-mail: Joanna.Bereza@trade.gov