Abstract : This article analyses the role of the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) in the process of bridging the digital divide in Poland in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Particular attention is paid to Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The aim of the article is to assess the changing role of the telecommunications regulator as a key factor in combating digital exclusion in Poland and in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. An analysis of telecommunications policy highlights the need to shift from merely providing infrastructure to co-creating a digital ecosystem, with a particular focus on the intensive development of digital skills. Digital awareness is central to combating digital exclusion. The analysis demonstrates that a modern regulatory body must combine supervisory functions with the role of coordinator of socio-economic innovation, which is a prerequisite for removing digital barriers at regional and social levels. These measures will reduce the infrastructure gap between urban and rural areas. The study utilized an analysis of original research conducted in 2024 (a representative sample of 1,080 respondents) and case studies of selected regulatory interventions. Our own research has shown that the greatest gaps lie in the areas of cybersecurity and the safe use of e-services, which exacerbates the divide between urban and rural areas. The conclusion sets out recommendations for regulatory policy in the era of 5G roll-out, highlighting the need for systematic education in digital skills as a prerequisite for building an inclusive information society.

Keyword : Broadband infrastructure, digital competences, digital exclusion, regulatory policy, sustainable development, telecommunications market.