The Algerian Minister of Post and Telecommunications Brahim Boumzar (pictured) set up a multidisciplinary working group on 10 June 2020 in Algiers to draw up a roadmap that will contribute to the effectiveness of local loop unbundling, national roaming and mobile number portability.

Speaking to the press, the Minister explained that the task of this working group will be “to examine the various technical, legal and economic aspects inherent in the implementation of the provisions enshrined in Law 18-04 of 10 May 2018 laying down the general rules relating to the post and electronic communications, in terms of infrastructure sharing, pooling of resources, promotion of competition and encouragement of investment in the telecommunications market.”

National roaming and local loop unbundling will allow fixed and mobile operators to pool their network capacity to offer high-value services to subscribers, particularly those in remote areas without coverage. Number portability will empower consumers and force operators to be more rigorous in the quality of services to retain their subscribers.

The action taken by Brahim Boumzar to operationalize local loop unbundling, national roaming, and number portability is in line with the strategic direction taken by the government to achieve the country's digital transformation.