• Algeria orders mobile coverage expansion along national road network

• Poor coverage linked to rising road accidents, safety concerns

• 4G rollout, 5G launch, and fiber upgrades underway by 2027
  

Algeria's Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Sid-Ali Zerrouki, has directed mobile operators to invest in extending their mobile networks to the country's road arteries. The order came during a visit to the El-Bayadh province on Monday, Aug. 25, as part of a national push for connectivity that the government says is crucial for public safety and economic development.

According to the official, the Algerian Post and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority will issue warnings to operators to improve their coverage on roads, particularly in light of a recent surge in accidents.

The initiative is part of a broader government push to modernize digital infrastructure to support economic and social development. Algeria has a road network of more than 127,000 km, including 29,573 km of national roads, but many remain insufficiently covered. The government aims to generalize mobile coverage across the entire country, including rural and isolated areas, to reduce the digital divide and improve travel safety.

As part of this modernization plan, a universal service program is underway to connect 1,400 sparsely populated areas to the 4G mobile network, while the launch of 5G is scheduled for the second half of 2025. At the same time, the government is focusing on rolling out high-speed fiber optic broadband and plans to gradually replace the copper network by the end of 2027, offering a faster and more reliable connection nationwide.

Internet coverage on roads is expected to enhance safety by enabling more effective monitoring and rapid reporting of incidents. It should also facilitate traffic management, the intervention of emergency services, and access to essential information for motorists. The goal is also to contribute to digital inclusion by connecting isolated areas to public, financial, and logistical services, while supporting economic development and infrastructure resilience in the face of disruptions.

Samira Njoya