"We plan to expand the network in Bolesławiec with equipment enabling broadband Internet access in the first half of 2005," says Marta Pietranik from the Press Office of Telefonia Dialog. For now, the operator has no offer for Bolesławiec residents that can compete with Neostrada from TP SA. "Recently, our range of Internet services has expanded to include new services—Dialnet 50 and 150. These provide 50 or 150 hours, respectively, to be used for connections to the network," Marta Pietranik encourages. However, 150 hours of Internet access per month for PLN 39 net is decidedly too little for some people. In addition, the maximum speed on a standard modem is 56 kbit/s. Activation of Dialnet 150 naturally also costs PLN 10 net.

As is well known, Telekomunikacja Polska offers Neostrada for as little as PLN 59 net. Connection costs one zloty. In addition, a subscription of PLN 35 net must be purchased. Altogether, this comes to PLN 94 net per month for telephone service and fixed Internet at 128 kbit/s. Telefonia Lokalna Dialog offers CDI. The subscription is PLN 28 net. In addition, there is PLN 5 net for rental of the access device, PLN 12 for mandatory use of the ISDN line, and PLN 83.20 net for Internet access. The total is PLN 128.20 net per month. That is PLN 35 more.

Both operators, while offering supposedly cheap services, are skinning their customers alive. In larger cities, independent Internet providers offer network access for as little as PLN 40 per month, while data-transfer speeds are several times higher.

Readers' opinions

As for wireless networks, they really are a good thing. However, when setting one up, you have to take certain limitations into account. Companies advertise a 2 Mbps transfer rate, but it is most often shared among a dozen or so people. In the evenings, and especially at weekends, the speed drops drastically. Considerable delays appear when browsing websites, and the quality and speed of file transfers also deteriorate significantly. However, the biggest drawback is the appalling upload speed. Unfortunately, this is a flaw of wireless networks. Additionally, if the network is protected by a firewall—and it is in almost 100% of cases—sending files through instant messengers, such as GG, is impossible. That is a considerable inconvenience. But overall, the price is quite affordable, so why not? It is particularly suitable for those who want to download files from the network (I do not know how it is elsewhere, but in my network the speed reaches 60 kB/s) and browse websites. I do not recommend it to people who work on a computer and whose work involves constantly sending data to others.

Ziom, Bolesławiec

Indeed, wireless networks work and are much cheaper. It is surprising that Dialog and TP do not deal with this. Dialog currently also offers 256 kbit/s Internet.

Artur, Bolesławiec

It works, WLAN works; up to 2 Mbit/s, it works great.

Krzysiek, Bolesławiec

We live in a small town where every such investment has to be carefully considered. The author of the article did not mention that all TP Neostrada connections have a 5 GB data-download limit, after which the transfer speed drops sharply, which can quickly dampen enthusiasm for this type of Internet access. As a colleague of mine recently put it: "The modem is slow but reliable." I am a satisfied customer of Telefonia Dialog using the Dialnet 150 package. Five hours a day on average is really a lot if you are not downloading large files and only use instant messengers, email, and websites. Regards.

Lukas Pole, Bolesławiec

A wireless network is already operating in the Kwiatowe housing estate. 128 kbit/s in both directions costs PLN 39, with no hourly or data-download limit.

Delfin, Bolesławiec

A wireless network is already operating in the Market Square.

Marcin, Bolesławiec