Translation
- Mediatel launches MVNO
An alternative fixed-line operator, , has included mobile telephony services under the 'Telepin mobi' brand into its offer. The new virtual network operator (MVNO) is based on 's infrastructure. Mediatel plans to poach 20,000 customers by the end of the current year, which it hopes to gain mainly from Poland-resident citizens of the Ukraine, Russia and Vietnam. The company expects to generate PLN 0.5m (€150,000) revenue by the end of 2008 by offering cheap international calls via special access number to fixed-line networks in almost 60 countries at PLN 0.39 (€0.12) per minute. When this discount expires, the standard price of PLN 0.49 (€0.15) will be charged. The costs of domestic M2M calls and SMS messages are PLN 0.60 (€0.18) per minute and PLN 0.23 (€0.07), respectively. Mediatel is planning distribution abroad as well (e.g., in Vietnam) and it runs a website in six languages.
- CenterTelecom doubles planned capital investments for 2008
, the fixed-line, mobile telephony and broadband operator controlled by the telecom holding , intends to spend RUB 13.5bn (€364m) chiefly on traditional telephony and transmission lines by the end of 2008. Initially, the value of spending was expected to be RUB 6.6bn (€179m). CenterTelecom operates in the territory of the Central Federal district. It also provides translation of programmes on cable television in the area. Svyazinvest owns a 38.02% package of CenterTelecom's authorised capital.
- Mediatel to run MVNO for foreigners
, a fixed-line operator, plans to launch the first mobile virtual network operator based on the platform for Vietnamese and Ukrainians in Poland, reported. Marcin Kubit, the president of Mediatel said this is going to be the first MVNO in Poland to be directed specifically at the ethnic groups. He explained that the company intends to reach the group of 200,000 foreigners who have already used its ' Telepin VoIP service with a mobile telephony offer as well. These are mainly citizens of Vietnam and the Ukraine. Advertising, marketing and customer services will be in the target groups' languages.
- Napisy.org back?
The popular website offering free film subtitles in Polish, www.napisy.org, may be reactivated, according to . In May 2007, after an investigation launched at the request of distributors associated in Fundacja Ochrony Tworczosci Audiowizualnej (the Foundation for Protection of Audiovisual Works), the website was suspended and its creators questioned. Since then, however, no specific charges have been brought, and the Zabrze Regional Prosecutor doubts whether in this case the law has been broken at all. An expert assigned by the prosecutor is to state whether publishing unauthorised translations free of charge of works for which authorised translations are available is a violation of the law.
- Google develops its activity in Poland
announced its plans to enlarge the number of its staff in Europe by several times and to develop its Polish facilities in Krakow, Wroclaw and Warsaw. Wroclaw is already one of the key places for the company and after Dublin it may become the second operational center in Europe. The company is interested in employing 300 engineers but also some individuals who know the languages of neighbouring countries. The owner of the most popular internet browser in the world does not disclose its financial results from each respective country of Central Europe, nor its share in the market of advertisements on browsers. However, according to the latest research of Gemius, in Poland this share is around 86%. Poland is the market where Google has the strongest position in the region in terms of browsers' ads. IAB, a consulting company, estimates that the value of the Polish market for browsers' advertising in 2007 will amount to PLN 110m and according to its forecast it will top PLN 180m in 2008.
Economic
- Shortcomings in dual price display drop to 15%
The proportion of retailers in which shortcomings in dual-price display have been found has dropped to 15%, represented mainly by food retailers and small shops with up to five employees. . The Slovak Commercial Inspection (SOI) and regional trade-licensing offices have made more than 20,000 checks since the obligation came into effect on 24 August. The checks will continue in December and January with the focus being on correct price setting during sales promotions. The inspection will monitor price development from which discounts are to be calculated.
- Solivaria shopping centre for Presov
The property developer will build a new shopping and entertainment centre called Solivaria in Presov, east Slovakia. In the first phase of the project, the centre will offer 25,000 m2 of shopping area with the second phase delivering an additional 10,000 m2. The centre will house shops, a food court and a skating rink. The opening is planned for autumn 2009.
- Steiger brewery increases output by 27%
The brewery has increased its output by 27% year on year to total 175,000 hectolitres of beer sold during January-October 2008. The output of all Slovak breweries during this period declined by 5% year on year to 3bn hl. Favourable weather conditions for beer consumption in September were followed by a consumption drop in October.
- Food concerns to have access to EU funds
The Ministry of Regional Development has changed the regulation concerning the PROW (the Countryside Development Programme) and POIG (the programme for innovative enterprises) programmes, which support the development of production, innovation, research and development. In accordance with the new regulation, the food producers will have access to EU funds from the Innovative Enterprise program, as reports. This applies to the companies that have annual revenue of at least €200m. To date food companies have not been able to apply for grants from the €1.1bn PROW and €4bn POIG funds as, in the view of the food concerns, the distribution of PROW funds appeared to be discriminatory. The money could not be allocated to companies with an annual turnover in excess of €200m and more than 750 staff.
- Biedronka continues achieving healthy results
Portuguese retailer (JMD) which manages the discount chain in Poland has not slowed down its pace of development. In Poland the retailer has reported PLN 8.7bn (€2.4bn) of sales revenues in the first three quarters of 2008 reflecting a 40% growth year on year. The healthy results are not only the effect of new openings (86 stores to date) as the chain reported a 24% growth in sales excluding new supermarkets. Globally, Jeronimo Martins has made €121.4m of net profit in Q1-Q3 2008 reflecting a 38.1% increase in comparison with the corresponding period of 2007. Over half of the company's sales revenues are generated by Biedronka. The retailer intends to open 100 Biedronka stores in Poland per year. At the end of 2008 the chain's storecount is to amount to 1,350 including those of the chain recently acquired by JMD.
