Algeria has announced a major nationwide expansion of mobile coverage, targeting 4,500 additional areas by 2027. The plan, revealed by Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Sid Ali Zerrouki, marks the second phase of the country’s mobile coverage programme and focuses on villages and rural zones with populations between 500 and 2,000. The first phase covered 1,400 areas, with 1,200 stations assigned and 800 already installed.
The initiative aligns with broader national efforts to improve digital connectivity. Authorities have instructed operators to boost coverage along key road corridors and encouraged wider use of the Alcomsat-1 satellite to extend internet access in underserved regions. Fibre optic rollout is progressing alongside these measures.
Despite strong coverage—2G at 98.5%, 3G at 98.2% and 4G at 90.4% in 2023—service adoption remains lower, with mobile penetration at 93% and internet access at 76.9%, according to ITU data. The GSMA notes that adoption gaps persist due to device affordability, service costs and varying levels of digital skills.
