In Poland, and in Warsaw in particular, there are several mobile operators. I cannot tell about the experience of using everyone, as well as about the whole variety of tariffs, so the information will be about the Play operator and especially for tourists who have arrived for a short time and who need a local SIM card for calls and 3G Internet. I will give you the basic data, or rather a working scheme, and then you will have to independently choose the tariffs on the site, if what I used does not suit you. However, Play is advised to be taken on travel forums as well as inexpensive Internet and communications..
The content of the article
- one Where to buy a SIM card Play
- 2 How to check and top up Play balance
- 3 Useful codes and phones
- 4 Speed and quality
- five Play rates
Where to buy a SIM card Play
At any Ruch newsstand, which usually stands near bus stops. Or in any shopping center with a Play pavilion. You can, how simple it is to point at a bag with a SIM card (they hang in a conspicuous place), or you can say in Polish «ASK FOR START PACKAGE BEFORE PLAY». Starter costs 5-9 pln. SIM cards from other operators are bought in the same way, they are also sold at newsagents.
Ruch newsstand selling sim cards
Here they are in the window, you can take any
Two different starters, one more for calls, the second more for the Internet, but the tariff can be changed
The usual SIM card and micro are always given
On the other side is your phone number, where +48 is the country code
International code of Poland +48
Poland mobile code +48
Mobile numbers can be dialed without code +48.
How to check and top up Play balance
* 101 #
Balance check (in Polish)
You can top up your balance at any Ruch newsstand or Play point of sale. However, I personally like to replenish the balance without leaving home. You can do this on the official website on the replenishment page. You can pay with a regular bank card. I paid by card Corn, the payment went through without problems, but the Homecredit credit card did not work, the request was rejected.
Alternatively, if you have Webmoney, you can also pay from your WMZ purse. Here is a direct link to pay.
Useful codes and phones
* 101 #
Balance check
* 108 #
Find out the rest of megabytes
* 121 #
Find out your number
* 111 * 49 * 1 #
Find out your tariff
Rescue phone: 112
Ambulance: 999
Firefighters: 998
Police: 997
Play Support: * 500
Speed and quality
Communication was good everywhere. I went by bus to Bratislava (this is across the whole of Poland) and there was 3G almost all the way. In Warsaw itself, I don’t remember at all that somewhere there were communication failures or the Internet fell off, if we do not take into account the basement rooms. The speed is also at the level.
3G speed in Warsaw, operator Play
Play rates
general information
I have not been to Poland for 2 years and do not follow the changes in tariffs, settings, etc. I update the post very rarely, so it's better to check everything on the operator's website.
Official site Play
Walk around the site and see the rates. I didn’t find the English version, so use Google Translate. The only thing that is in English is this page - http://promocje.play.pl/en/. When I was in Poland, the rates indicated on it were relevant. I don’t know how now.
By the link you can see the rates in English (3 pieces). As a rule, they are the ones that are sold in kiosks..
- Play na Karte (Standard) (* 163 * 6 #)
- Play na Karte Lubie to! (* 163 * 7 #)
- FORMULA Play na Karte (* 163 * 10 #)
You can switch between these tariffs, the USSD code is indicated in brackets. These are not all tariffs, but the rest is in Polish. Apparently, these are specifically for foreigners, so there is a minimum of proposals and everything is in English. The tariffs are quite similar to each other, I sat there for a long time, which one is better. But in fact, the difference there is not very big.
Calls within Play can be generally free if such a tariff is chosen. It is convenient to buy a SIM card for yourself and your wife (the second companion) and you can talk for hours. The only drawback is that most tariffs have a validity period, as you remember, we had it before. The money is on the account, and outgoing calls are not made, because the validity period has expired. You have to replenish to make everything work again.
Play na Karte (Standard)
So, if you bought Play na Karte (Standard) or switched to it, then you will have free calls within Play. But you need to be mindful of expiration dates. Top up your balance by 5-9 pln you will get only 5 days for outgoing calls, 10-24 pln - 10 days, 25-49 pln - 30 days.
Top-up prices Outgoing calls Incoming calls 0 zl Cost per minute and SMS within the Play network 5-9 zl 5 days 65 days 0.29 zl Cost per minute to other operators 10-24 zl 10 days 70 days 0.09 zl Cost of SMS to other operators 25-49 zl 30 days 90 days zl 0.12 Internet (for 100 kB) 50-99 zl 100 days 160 days 100-300 zl 150 days 210 days
You can also connect one-time Internet packages. One-time means that they will be valid only once during the validity period. The price is great.
Number of traffic Price / Validity How to connect 600 MB 5 zl / 30 days * 111 * 531 * 1 #
2 GB 9 zl / 30 days * 111 * 532 * 1 #
6 GB 20 zl / 30 days * 111 * 533 * 1 #
Or, if you have arrived for a long time, then you can connect Internet packages that will be valid every month.
Number of traffic Price / Validity How to connect 600 MB 5 zl / 30 days * 111 * 541 * 1 #
2 GB 9 zl / 30 days * 111 * 542 * 1 #
6 GB 20 zl / 30 days * 111 * 543 * 1 #
As a result, we used this tariff, it is the most obvious. First, we replenished it with 25 pln, then we connected a 2GB package. Thus, the Internet is available, calls are free to a friend, and another 15 pln is left to call someone else..
Play na Karte Lubie to!
If you have Play na Karte Lubie to !, there are no free calls within Play, but bonuses for replenishment are given in the form of Internet traffic. In my opinion, the previous tariff is more «tasty».
Prices Top-ups Traffic bonus Outgoing calls Incoming calls 0.29 zl Cost per minute to all networks 5-9 zl 50 MB 5 days 65 days 0.09 zl Cost per SMS to all networks 10-24 zl 200 MB 10 days 70 days 0 zl Internet usage (per 100 kB) 25-49 zl 500 MB 30 days 90 days 50-99 zl 1.5 GB 100 days 160 days 100-300 zl 3.5 GB 150 days 210 days
Likewise, you can connect an Internet package. Everything is the same as in the previous tariff, the same, the same terms, the same connection codes.
FORMULA Play na Karte
Someone will be more suited to a tariff with a monthly fee, the Formula tariff, do not need to think that the validity period will expire. There are 3 formulas:
7 pln / month - free SMS and 100 MB internet.
14 pln / month - free SMS and calls within Play, 1 GB of internet.
21 pln / month - free SMS and calls within Play, 2 GB of internet.
In my opinion, only the last two formulas are interesting, where 1 and 2 GB of traffic. On the other hand, it may be easier to buy a 2GB internet package for 9 pln on the Standard.
P.S. I can't say anything about other operators. Perhaps everything is the same there.
