Przemysław Kuna, an experienced manager and civil servant with an extensive past in the telecommunications sector and state projects, has become the new president of the Electronic Communications Authority.
His appointment signals a shift towards technocratic governance and poses challenges related to the 5G market, regulation of digital giants and cyber security.
The change in the key position of regulator of the telecommunications market, worth billions of zlotys, comes at a crucial time. Kuna, a graduate of the Lublin and Warsaw Universities of Technology with a PhD from the Warsaw School of Economics, takes over the reins from Jacek Oko. His career is a solid mix of private sector and public administration experience.
For more than two decades, Kuna held management positions in key companies such as Exatel and Telekomunikacja Polska.
He has also managed smaller operators (MNI Telekom, Pro Futuro) and sat on the board of TK Telekom, which gives him an in-depth understanding of both the big players’ perspective and their competition.
However, it is his experience in state administration that may prove crucial. As an expert at the Ministry of the Interior, he coordinated the implementation of the strategic State Registers System. Later, as Deputy Minister, he oversaw key IT projects.
Most recently, as deputy director of NASK, he was responsible for the strategic project of the Nationwide Educational Network (OSE), which brought him closer to the issues of cyber security and digital education.
The new UKE president faces a number of challenges. Priority will be given to the further development of 5G networks and ensuring efficient use of frequencies. Equally important will be issues related to the implementation of European legislation, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes new obligations on internet platforms.
Also in the background is the constant pressure to protect consumer rights and ensure competitiveness in the market. His appointment, approved by the Sejm on 26 September, is seen as an attempt to place at the head of the office an efficient manager who understands both technology and state mechanisms.
