Overview of Play
Play (P4) is a leading mobile operator in Poland and part of the French Iliad group. It was founded in 2007 and holds Poland's fourth mobile licence, which is why the company is called P4. Low prices broke the duopoly of Orange and T-Mobile/Polkomtel, and Play became one of Poland's main operators. In 2023 Iliad finished buying all of Play, which is now part of Iliad's European footprint.
Through Play Business, Play sells M2M connectivity, IoT SIMs, and dedicated APNs. Poland is one of the largest economies in Central and Eastern Europe, with strong manufacturing and logistics, and Play's IoT is used for fleet management, industrial monitoring, and smart metering.
Play facts
- Founded: 2007 (P4 network)
- Headquarters: Warsaw, Poland
- Parent: Iliad group (full acquisition in 2023)
- Mobile users: about 15 million (2024)
- Market share: about 25% of the Polish mobile market
- Brands: Play (consumer), Play Business (enterprise)
- Radio access: 4G LTE, 5G NR, NB-IoT, LTE-M
- Known for: Breaking the duopoly with low prices
History and milestones
Play (P4) received Poland's fourth mobile licence in 2007. It was founded by Polish entrepreneurs and investment funds, and it launched under the Play brand with low-price plans against Orange and T-Mobile/Polkomtel. In the 2010s it passed 10 million users and became Poland's third-largest mobile operator. Iliad bought a majority stake in 2021 and the rest in 2023. Play now sits with Iliad's operators in France and Italy.
Play Business sells enterprise M2M and IoT. Demand is growing in Polish manufacturing and logistics. The 5G network is still being extended for industrial IoT. After the Iliad deal, Play can use IoT capability in France and Italy.
Core technical capabilities
Iliad
Networks in France, Italy, and Poland for pan-European IoT
Cost
A lean operation and low prices, for cost-sensitive IoT
Polish industry
Local service for manufacturing and logistics IoT in Poland
Play Business
Enterprise M2M, dedicated APNs, and IoT connection management
Network standards and coverage
| Technology | Coverage | Uses | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | Nationwide in Poland | Primary IoT connectivity | Main network |
| 5G NR | Major cities in Poland | High-speed IoT and industrial use | Still expanding |
| NB-IoT | Main regions of Poland | Smart metering and sensors | In commercial service |
| LTE-M | Some areas | Mobile IoT devices | Expanding in stages |
Industry Solutions
Manufacturing
- Factory monitoring
- Asset tracking
- Predictive maintenance
- Supply chain
Logistics
- Fleet management
- Vehicle tracking
- Cold-chain monitoring
- Delivery routing
Retail
- POS connectivity
- Self-service terminals
- Inventory management
- Store monitoring
Utilities
- Smart electricity meters
- Remote water-meter reading
- Energy management
- Municipal metering
Competitive advantages
- Competition: Broke Poland's duopoly
- Iliad: Networks in France, Italy, and Poland
- Price: Lower-cost IoT connectivity
- Poland: One of the largest economies in Central and Eastern Europe, with strong IoT potential
- Users: User numbers and market share have kept rising
Support
Enterprise support
- Play Business team
- M2M connectivity
- Dedicated APN
- Multi-country roaming
Platform
- Connection management
- SIM lifecycle
- Usage monitoring
- Batch activation
Compliance and security
- GDPR compliance
- Polish data protection
- Secure transport
- EU standards