• Algérie Télécom reached 2.5 million fiber subscribers on September 14, offering speeds up to 1.5 Gbps.

• Algeria's FTTH connections grew from 53,000 in 2020 to 2.5 million in 2025, covering 27% of households.

• The government plans to phase out copper networks by 2027 as Algeria becomes Africa's largest FTTH market.

The expansion of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services reflects Algeria’s broader push to modernize its digital infrastructure and bridge connectivity divides. Despite rapid progress, the country still faces a broadband penetration gap. Algeria’s connectivity landscape remains heavily mobile-driven. As of 2025, the country counted 51.7 million mobile internet subscriptions compared to about 6.4 million fixed-line subscribers, according to The Regulatory Authority of Post and Electronic Communications. Yet the fixed segment is rapidly transforming: more than half of fixed-line households are now connected via fiber, reflecting the strategic shift from copper and ADSL networks toward high-capacity broadband.

Recent data shows the scale of Algeria’s push. By October 2024, 1.5 million households were connected via FTTH, up from just over 50,000 in 2020. By mid-2025, Algérie Télécom reported that figure had climbed to 2.2 million households, with more than half of its fixed-line subscribers now connected through fiber. The operator’s latest update of 2.5 million subscribers confirms that Algeria’s fiber rollout has accelerated significantly in less than five years. The government has also committed to phasing out its copper/ADSL network entirely by the end of 2027, completing the transition to a nationwide fiber backbone.

The achievement also comes amid a wider continental race to expand fiber infrastructure. In North Africa, Algeria’s strategy mirrors moves by Morocco and Egypt, both of which have aggressively expanded their broadband networks. In sub-Saharan Africa, regional blocs such as the East African Community’s One Network Area (ONA) initiative are seeking to integrate fiber connectivity with cross-border roaming and digital services, though penetration levels remain uneven. Algeria’s progress signals its determination to position itself as a digital hub in the Maghreb and beyond.

The next phase of growth will depend on how effectively Algérie Télécom and public policymakers address the rural connectivity gap. Extending fiber into remote regions, offering affordable packages, and fostering public-private partnerships will be crucial if Algeria is to achieve universal broadband coverage and fully realize its digital economy ambitions.

With 2.5 million households now connected via fiber optics, Algeria has taken a significant step toward its vision of a knowledge-driven economy. The milestone demonstrates that the digital transition is no longer aspirational but well underway — and its impact will be measured by how inclusively it connects the nation.

Hikmatu Bilali