Today the government is to consider changing telecommunications law to allow police and others access to information about users. However industry association Polska Izba Informatyki i Telekomunikacji is warning that this could cost the operators as much as PLN830m annually.
The bill, prepared by the infrastructure ministry, will permit users to opt for prepaid cellular phone cards only once they give the operator information on their name, address and other private details. The interior ministry is insisting on these changes which it claims are necessary for the police and other investigating bodies.
The telecoms industry does not share this opinion. Jerzy Sadowski, development director at Polkomtel, the operator of the Plus GSM brand, says that he cannot believe that this type of information will allow the authorities to fight crime better. The only effect, he says, would be that those who do not want to give their private information would stop using cell phones. This in turn would act as a brake on the growth of the industry.
A survey by the Polska Izba Informatyki i Telekomunikacji (PIIiT) has confirmed this state of affairs. They believe that as many as forty percent of existing clients may just give up on the service if they must sign a new contract. Analysts from PIIiT believe that the loss of this business could cost the operators as much as PLN830m and the state would lose a further PLN180m from VAT.