Algeria’s Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Sid Ali Zerrouki, participated in a high-level meeting in Barcelona focused on the governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the telecommunications sector. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), according to a statement issued by the ministry.
The session was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the GSM Association (GSMA), bringing together global stakeholders to discuss the regulatory and institutional frameworks needed to guide AI development in telecom networks and digital ecosystems.
During his remarks, Zerrouki highlighted Algeria’s strategy to strengthen its position as a regional technology hub connecting Europe, Africa and the Arab world. He noted that this ambition is being supported through major investments in telecommunications infrastructure, the accelerated rollout of 5G networks, and the development of a national AI ecosystem.
The minister also referenced the launch of Algeria’s National Cybersecurity Strategy for the next five years, describing it as a key component of the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.
According to Zerrouki, the main challenge surrounding AI adoption lies in institutional readiness and governance. He stressed that effective governance frameworks are essential to ensure AI technologies contribute to economic growth, digital inclusion and broader social development.
He added that building trust in AI systems and establishing clear regulatory structures will be critical to enabling innovation while ensuring the responsible deployment of emerging technologies across the telecommunications sector.
