Thirty-five businesses and institutions have joined forces to work for the development of mobile communications and wireless technologies in Poland.

In early February they established a research and development consortium known as the Polish Platform on Mobile Communications and Wireless Technologies (PPTMiKB). The consortium brings together companies that develop mobile equipment, software and services. It was established at the initiative of the Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications in association with the National Contact Point for EU Research Programs, an organization that affiliates data communication companies and national R&D centers.

Based on a public-private partnership (PPP), the consortium is part of the European Union's Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology Platform, also known as e-Mobility. Consortium members pursue joint research projects with other European companies and look for partners in other European countries.

The consortium is a source of information on financing opportunities for R&D projects in mobile internet and network access. It is also lobbying for business-friendly legislation in these areas and urging the establishment of a mobile technology research center based on the PPP model. The center would help develop mobile applications and technologies following the example of similar centers in Western Europe and the United States.

For now, Poland's mobile technology industry is still in its infancy, and the ties between individual companies and institutions affiliated in the consortium are weaker than they could be. This explains why the organization is calling for the development of a comprehensive strategy for the sector in order to strengthen cooperation and make the Polish market more attractive to potential investors from other EU countries, Asia and the United States.

This strategy is described by the Polish acronym DRZEWO (Tree), which stands for Dostępność, Relewantność, Zaufanie, Elastyczność, Wydajność, Otwartość, or accessibility, relevance, trust, flexibility, efficiency and openness.

The Tree of Knowledge

The strategy addresses the problems that have to be overcome in order to develop advanced mobile services and technologies in Poland.
"Accessibility" involves problems with gaining access to the network, the complexity of mobile devices and their high prices. In order to overcome these problems, adequate network access technologies have to be implemented, along with systems to help users develop their own systems, including the introduction of new network protocols and standards.

"Relevance" calls for increasing interactivity and creating efficient mobile search engines, content filters and platforms for advanced mobile and multimedia content.

"Trust" refers to the security of mobile transfer. Advanced mobile services such as m-banking require secure mechanisms for the transfer of sensitive data such as banking account logins and passwords. That requires data encryption, identity and privacy channel management and secure data transfer. Also needed are systems capable of stopping spam and detecting viruses, mobile worms and hacker attacks.

"Flexibility" calls for the development of systems adapted to client requirements and capable of operation regardless of how many clients are connected to the network at a given movement.

"Efficiency" refers to the proper use of network access equipment, connection quality measurement and innovative methods for network resource distribution and management, accompanied by the compatibility of landline and wireless communications.

"Openness" means the development of networks based on open source technology and the creation of interdisciplinary teams to design new wireless services.

All technologies being developed by consortium members are in line with European Research Area programs, particularly its eMobility agenda on wireless software and services. The consortium's founders and members say wireless applications and services in Poland can only be developed with the help of the government and EU funds.

According to companies affiliated in the consortium, government agencies responsible for the computerization of public administration should take more active part in EU research and development projects such as ERANET+. Businesspeople want the government to support Polish R&D companies and institutes participating in the EU's 7th Framework Program. They also say the government should refrain from buying ready-made wireless systems overseas because many of these systems do not comply with EU standards.

Some 1.8 billion people use wireless devices around the world. By 2009, that number is expected to grow to 2.9 billion. Europe is a leader in mobile technology with the world's highest market saturation. More than 80 percent of Europeans use at least one wireless device, and businesses are ready to spend more money on technologies enabling wireless communications.

Marek Mejssner


The Polish Platform on Mobile Communications and Wireless Technology comprises the following companies and institutions:

1. AbaCo Holding Sp. z o.o.
2. Aqurat Sp. z o.o.
3. Atena Sp. z o.o.
4. ATM S.A.
5. AutoGuard & Insurance Sp. z o.o.
6. Avantis Sp. z o.o.
7. Bellstream Sp. z o.o.
8. Big 5x
9. Comarch S.A.
10. Fundacja MOST
11. Fundacja Multis Multum
12. Globema Sp. z o.o.
13. Infotron Sp. z o.o.
14. Infovide S.A.
15. Instytut Łączności
16. Instytut Telekomunikacji Politechniki Warszawskiej
17. Kobiety.pl
18. KPK Programów Badawczych UE (member with observer status)
19. Logotec Engineering S.A.
20. Microsoft Sp. z o.o.
21. One-2-One Sp. z o.o.
22. Octagonet S.A.
23. One2Tribe Sp. z o.o.
24. ONET
25. PIIiT
26. Politechnika Poznańska
(Instytut Informatyki i Centrum Doskonałości)
27. PPWK GeoInvent Sp. z o.o.
28. Prokom Software S.A.
29. PTC Era
30. Siemens Sp. z o.o.
31. Softbank Serwis
32. Suntech S. A.
33. Szkoła Główna Handlowa
34. Telechem Sp. z o.o.
35. Trusted Information Consulting Sp. z o.o.