• Government targets 4,500 additional zones for mobile coverage by 2027
• Second phase focuses on villages and rural areas with 500–2,000 residents
• Authorities also push fiber rollout and wider use of the Alcomsat-1 satellite

Algeria plans to extend mobile network coverage to 4,500 additional areas by 2027. The announcement was made on November 15, by Sid Ali Zerrouki, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, during the launch of security works on infrastructure at the Space Telecommunications Center operated by Algérie Télécom Satellite (ATS).

This marks the second phase of the national mobile coverage program, with a specific focus on villages and rural zones with between 500 and 2,000 residents. The minister noted that the first phase covered 1,400 areas, with 1,200 stations assigned and 800 already installed.

The Algerian government is stepping up efforts to expand telecom services nationwide. In August, authorities instructed mobile operators to invest in connecting major road corridors to mobile networks, in line with their licenses and technical requirements. In May, they recommended better use of the national satellite Alcomsat-1 to extend Internet access. Fiber optic expansion efforts are also underway.

These initiatives come as 2G, 3G, and 4G networks covered 98.5%, 98.2%, and 90.4% of the Algerian population in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The organization also reports that mobile penetration stood at 93%, compared with 76.9% for Internet access.

However, network coverage does not automatically translate into service adoption. The gap between 2G coverage and mobile penetration illustrates this trend. The GSMA notes that real adoption also depends on access to compatible devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, the cost of Internet services, and digital skills levels.