Internet Access in Algeria

Algeria has seen steady growth in internet usage and infrastructure over the past decade. As of early 2024, the country had about 33.5 million internet users – roughly 72.9% of its population trade.gov. By January 2025, internet penetration reached ~76.9% developingtelecoms.com, indicating that roughly one-quarter of Algerians remain offline. Internet adoption is driven largely by mobile connectivity, given the high mobile phone usage. There were over 50 million mobile subscriptions in 2024 (exceeding the population due to many users having multiple SIMs) trade.gov. Fixed broadband access, while improving, remains less prevalent than mobile internet, with about 5.5 million fixed subscriptions in 2023 (roughly 12 per 100 people) ambalgzagreb.com ambalgzagreb.com. The government has prioritized expanding digital infrastructure, improving speeds, and extending coverage – especially to underserved rural areas – as part of its national connectivity initiatives. The following report details the state of Algeria’s internet access across fixed, mobile, and satellite domains, pricing structures, urban–rural disparities, regulatory environment, key players, and how Algeria compares with peers in North Africa and globally.

Fixed Broadband Infrastructure and Penetration

Fixed broadband in Algeria is dominated by the state-owned Algérie Télécom (AT), which operates the consumer brand “Idoom” for internet services. Historically, Algeria’s fixed network was based on ADSL over copper telephone lines; in recent years the country has invested heavily in fiber-optic infrastructure and VDSL upgrades to boost speeds. By early 2023, Algeria had 5.12 million fixed internet subscribers, up from 3.5 million in 2020 ambalgzagreb.com ambalgzagreb.com. This rapid growth (over 45% increase in three years) makes Algeria the 2nd highest in Africa and 3rd in the Arab world for number of fixed broadband subscribers ambalgzagreb.com ambalgzagreb.com. In 2023, fixed broadband penetration was about 12.0 subscriptions per 100 people theglobaleconomy.com – significantly above neighboring Morocco (~6–7 per 100) and even slightly above the global median statista.com theglobaleconomy.com. This success is largely attributed to AT’s aggressive rollout of Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and network upgrades.

Network and Technologies: Algeria’s fixed network has transitioned from predominantly ADSL (up to 20 Mbps) to newer technologies. VDSL is deployed in some areas, offering up to 50–100 Mbps over upgraded copper lines algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. The major leap, however, is in FTTH. Algérie Télécom introduced Idoom Fibre plans that reach ultra-high speeds – recently launching packages up to 1.2 Gbps (1200 Mbps) download algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. By April 2025, AT reported over 2 million FTTH subscribers, a dramatic rise from only ~53,000 in 2020 developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. This represents about 27% of Algerian households having fiber by 2025 developingtelecoms.com. The government’s goal is to extend fiber connectivity to all neighborhoods by 2026 as part of its action plan developingtelecoms.com. Moreover, Algeria has announced plans to fully phase out copper lines by 2027 in favor of fiber optics wearetech.africa wearetech.africa. This copper-to-fiber migration is meant to improve reliability and enable modern high-bandwidth applications (remote work, e-services, etc.) wearetech.africa wearetech.africa.

Coverage and Infrastructure: Fixed broadband is widely available in urban centers, while rural coverage lags. About 75.5% of Algerians live in urban areas datareportal.com, where the majority of fixed lines are concentrated. Rural areas (24.5% of population) often have limited access to high-speed broadband trade.gov. To improve backhaul and international capacity, Algeria has invested in submarine fiber cables. It has at least three major submarine cables: SEA-ME-WE4 (older), Medex (launched 2018–2019), and the Orval/Alval system connecting Algeria to Spain, which went live in 2020 with up to 40 Tbps capacity theafricareport.com subtelforum.com. As a result, Algeria’s international bandwidth jumped from 1.5 Tbps in 2020 to 7.8 Tbps by end-2022, allowing the government to raise the base broadband speed tenfold (from 2 Mbps to 10 Mbps) at no extra cost to consumers ambalgzagreb.com. These upgrades have improved Algeria’s average fixed internet speeds: as of early 2025, the median fixed download speed was 15.1 Mbps, up 22% from the year prior datareportal.com datareportal.com. While this still trails global averages, it marks a significant improvement in service quality.

Fixed Broadband Plans and Pricing: Algérie Télécom’s consumer broadband plans are known for being unlimited (no data caps) and relatively affordable by international standards. DSL/ADSL plans offer 10–20 Mbps speeds. VDSL (available on qualified lines) goes up to 50 or 100 Mbps. FTTH plans range from 15 Mbps up to 1.2 Gbps. The table below shows a sample of Idoom plans and prices:

Table: Sample fixed broadband plans from Algérie Télécom. (1 USD ≈ 132 DZD). All plans offer unlimited data. Note: In early 2023, AT raised the minimum speed for broadband to 10 Mbps (from 2 Mbps) without increasing prices ambalgzagreb.com, reflecting the government’s push to improve baseline service.

These prices (e.g. ~2,200 DZD ≈ $16 for 30 Mbps fiber, ~4,200 DZD ≈ $31 for 1.2 Gbps) are relatively low in nominal terms algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. However, adoption can be limited by installation logistics and income levels in poorer regions. The government has occasionally run promotions (free installation, free first month, etc.) to encourage new subscriptions algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. Despite low tariffs, the cost of equipment and legacy copper quality have been hurdles in some areas, which the ongoing fiber rollout aims to solve.

Mobile Internet Access: 3G, 4G, and 5G

Mobile networks are the primary mode of internet access for most Algerians. At the start of 2023, 48.5 million cellular connections were active (about 107% of the population) datareportal.com, and this grew to 54.8 million by January 2025 datareportal.com datareportal.com. The high SIM penetration reflects multi-SIM ownership and business use. Importantly, over 91% of these connections are on 3G/4G networks (i.e. broadband capable) datareportal.com datareportal.com. Mobile broadband overtook older 2G usage back in 2016 and has expanded rapidly oxfordbusinessgroup.com.

Major Operators: Algeria has three mobile network operators (MNOs): Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo. Mobilis is a division of Algérie Télécom (state-owned), while Djezzy and Ooredoo are private-sector operators (though Djezzy is now majority-owned by the Algerian state via the National Investment Fund). All three provide 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE services across the country. Their subscriber numbers and market shares as of late 2024 are: Mobilis – ~22.1 million subscribers (the largest operator), Djezzy – ~15.6 million, and Ooredoo – ~12.9 million trade.gov trade.gov. In market share terms, Mobilis has about ~44%, Djezzy ~31%, and Ooredoo ~25%. Mobilis’ state backing and legacy (it was the first mobile provider via AT) help it maintain the top spot, but all three compete on coverage and pricing.

Table: Algeria’s mobile network operators and their status. All three operators launched 3G in the early 2010s and 4G LTE in 2016. 4G coverage now reaches the majority of the population – by end of 2022, about 82% of the population was covered by 4G signal ambalgzagreb.com. The regulator had set rollout requirements, and while initial 4G deployment was slow (operators were even fined in 2020 for missing coverage targets), the situation improved significantly by mid-decade. Today, urban areas enjoy extensive 3G/4G coverage, and even many smaller towns are covered, though remote interior and desert regions still have patchy reception. 3G remains important in some rural zones and as a fallback, but operators have largely refarmed their networks to focus on 4G for data.

Mobile Internet Speed and Quality: Algeria’s mobile broadband speeds are modest but improving. As of January 2025, the median mobile download speed was about 23.4 Mbps on cellular networks datareportal.com. This marked a ~10% increase year-on-year datareportal.com, thanks to network investments and increased 4G uptake. However, peak speeds in urban centers can be higher, and many users in rural areas experience lower-than-median speeds due to congestion or relying on 3G. The operators have been upgrading backhaul (for instance, AT partnered with Huawei on a national 400G fiber backbone to improve capacity for mobile and fixed networks developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com). Latency on 4G is typically 30–50ms, which supports most apps, though higher than in countries with newer 5G networks.

5G Status: Algeria has yet to launch commercial 5G. Trials are underway – for example, state operator Mobilis conducted technical 5G trials in 2023 and is aiming for a commercial launch by 2025 ecofinagency.com. Djezzy and Ooredoo likewise have tested 5G-ready equipment in partnership with vendors (Huawei, Nokia) since 2021 connectingafrica.com. However, regulatory approval for 5G spectrum and licenses is still pending trade.gov trade.gov. The government appears cautious, likely ensuring the necessary infrastructure and fiber backhaul (for which it relies on AT) are in place. Neighboring Morocco and Tunisia have also been slow on 5G, so Algeria is not far behind regional peers. The expected timeframe is a limited 5G rollout in late 2024 or 2025 (e.g. in Algiers and major cities), expanding in following years. Until then, 4G LTE (with LTE-A in some areas) remains the top mobile technology available to Algerian consumers.

Mobile Internet Pricing: Mobile data in Algeria is sold via bundles that are quite affordable in local terms. All three operators offer both prepaid and postpaid plans with voice/data/SMS packages. For instance, Djezzy and Ooredoo commonly have monthly prepaid data bundles like 1 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, etc., often costing on the order of a few hundred dinars (a few dollars). Mobilis similarly has “Mix” plans (e.g. 80 GB for 2000 DZD) mobilis.dz. A notable offering is Algérie Télécom’s own Idoom 4G LTE service – a fixed-wireless access (FWA) product using Mobilis’s 4G network for home internet. The Idoom 4G LTE plans provide large data quotas suitable for home use, bridging the gap in areas without fixed lines. For example, AT sells an Idoom 4G subscription with a free 4G Wi-Fi modem for 4500 DZD, which includes 150 GB data for the first month algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. Users can then recharge data packages up to 1 TB (1000 GB) for 9500 DZD (valid 90 days) algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. Smaller top-ups are available too – e.g. 40 GB for 1000 DZD (1 month) or 150 GB for 1500 DZD (1 month) algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. These generous quotas with “unlimited at reduced speed” after cap are attractive for rural users or those awaiting fiber. The table below highlights some Idoom 4G LTE data plans:

• 15 GB – 500 DZD (15 days) algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz
• 40 GB – 1000 DZD (30 days) algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz
• 150 GB – 1500 DZD (30 days) algerietelecom.dz (includes some voice credit)
• 300 GB – 2500 DZD (60 days) algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz
• 1000 GB – 6500 DZD (180 days) algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz

(For comparison, 1 USD ≈ 132 DZD.) These rates illustrate that per-gigabyte costs are low. Indeed, observers note that Algeria’s fiber and 4G data plans are cheaper than in many European markets for equivalent speeds reddit.com. However, the affordability relative to income is a mixed picture – Algeria’s lower purchasing power means even a $15 monthly internet bill can be significant for low-income households. The government and regulator have kept a close eye on pricing to ensure basic services remain attainable. As a result, Algeria ranks favorably in Africa for affordable internet (meeting the UN’s 2%-of-income affordability target for many plans).

Satellite Internet Availability

Given Algeria’s vast territory – the largest country in Africa – and remote Saharan communities, satellite internet plays a role in connecting areas beyond the reach of fixed or mobile networks. Algeria has its own communications satellite, Alcomsat-1, launched in 2017 as a partnership between the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) and China en.wikipedia.org. Alcomsat-1 carries Ku-band and Ka-band transponders dedicated to telecom, TV broadcasting, and broadband internet services across Algeria airport-technology.com spaceflightnow.com. The satellite’s Ka-band capacity can deliver up to 20 Mb/s broadband to terminals anywhere in Algeria, including rural villages and oil installations in the desert satbeams.com. A subsidiary of Algérie Télécom named ATS (Algérie Télécom Satellite) offers VSAT connectivity using Alcomsat-1 and other satellites, targeting businesses, government agencies, and isolated communities spacewatch.global. For example, schools, health clinics, or administrative offices in the Sahara can get a satellite broadband link where terrestrial options are unavailable.

In May 2025, the Minister of Post & Telecom highlighted the importance of optimizing Alcomsat-1’s use to bridge the digital divide dzair-tube.dz dzair-tube.dz. He called for expanding satellite internet to “isolated rural zones, remote mountainous or desert regions, and high-priority economic areas that cannot be reached by fiber” dzair-tube.dz dzair-tube.dz. The government is encouraging innovation and public-private partnerships in satellite services, so that no citizen is left unconnected dzair-tube.dz dzair-tube.dz. This includes incentivizing service providers to offer affordable satellite broadband solutions and developing e-learning, telemedicine, and e-government applications that can run over satellite links dzair-tube.dz dzair-tube.dz.

Apart from Alcomsat, Algerian users have limited options for satellite internet. Traditional VSAT providers (often foreign-based) operate in Algeria, such as GlobalTT or iDirect resellers, but these cater to niche enterprise needs and are expensive (often hundreds of dollars per month for a few Mbps). A developing trend is Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet like SpaceX’s Starlink. However, Starlink is not officially available in Algeria as of 2025. While Starlink has launched in several African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, etc.), Algeria currently shows “no planned launch date” on Starlink’s availability map mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za. Regulatory hurdles are a likely factor – Algerian law would require a local license and perhaps local ownership stake, which has delayed Starlink’s entry (similar to issues in South Africa) mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za. Additionally, Algeria’s restrictions on currency exchange and the government’s desire to control communications may be at play. Some tech-savvy users have reportedly used Starlink terminals smuggled or brought from abroad (using roaming), but officially the service remains unauthorized. The government appears cautious about Starlink and similar services, perhaps concerned about unfiltered internet access and loss of revenue control reddit.com reddit.com. Neighboring Morocco and Tunisia are slated to get Starlink by 2024, highlighting Algeria’s more conservative stance reddit.com reddit.com.

In the meantime, Algeria will rely on Alcomsat-1 and any future satellites for connecting its hardest-to-reach areas. The Minister Zerrouki’s push suggests Algeria might even launch additional satellites or programs to bolster rural connectivity. Satellite internet, while latency-prone and costlier than terrestrial links, is set to remain an important complement to Algeria’s broadband mix – ensuring that remote villages, nomadic communities, and strategic sites (like border posts or energy facilities deep in the Sahara) can access online services when land networks are absent.

Urban vs. Rural Coverage and Digital Divide

Urban areas in Algeria enjoy far better internet access than rural areas, reflecting a typical digital divide. Approximately 75% of Algerians live in urban centers datareportal.com – these include coastal cities like Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, plus many midsize towns. These urban areas have seen intensive telecom investment. Algiers and other big cities have extensive fiber deployment, 4G coverage, and even public Wi-Fi hotspots. By contrast, the 24% of Algerians in rural areas – including remote villages in the Atlas Mountains and vast stretches of the Sahara – often have limited connectivity. Many rural communities historically relied on basic 2G voice/SMS and have only recently gotten 3G or 4G signals (if at all). Fixed lines in villages can be scarce, and those that exist may be old copper with ADSL if within range of an exchange.

This urban–rural gap is evident in broadband stats: the majority of the 5+ million fixed subscriptions are in cities trade.gov. Rural broadband penetration is low; high-speed broadband access in rural Algeria is very limited trade.gov. AT has acknowledged that connecting the last 20–25% of the population is challenging due to terrain and cost trade.gov dzair-tube.dz. The government’s strategy to address this includes:

• Expanding Fiber Backbones: Laying fiber to towns and mobile towers in interior provinces, often using universal service funds to subsidize rural telecom projects. Fiber backbone now connects all 58 wilayas (provinces) to some degree ambalgzagreb.com, improving backhaul even if last-mile remains wireless.
• Fixed 4G/LTE Solutions: The Idoom 4G LTE service explicitly targets areas with no fiber/ADSL. It has been deployed in many rural locales, giving residents a home internet option with decent speeds (10–20 Mbps) via wireless algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz. Both Mobilis and private operators also offer similar 4G router packages for home use, recognizing demand from underserved areas reddit.com reddit.com.
• Satellite for Remote Sites: As discussed, Alcomsat-1 is intended to connect truly isolated spots where laying fiber or even maintaining cell towers is impractical (deep desert settlements, etc.) dzair-tube.dz dzair-tube.dz.

Despite these efforts, disparities persist. Urban Algerians not only have more choices of providers and plans, but also higher average speeds. For instance, an urban fiber customer can get 100+ Mbps, whereas a rural user might be on a 3G connection barely getting 1–2 Mbps. The government has explicitly made “bridging the digital divide” a policy priority. In 2021, it launched programs to equip rural schools with internet and to create community IT centers in less developed areas. Literacy and digital skills are another aspect: rural populations, on average, have lower digital literacy, compounding the access gap trade.gov trade.gov. To tackle this, youth training and smartphone penetration (affordable devices) are being promoted.

One measurable outcome of these initiatives is that the minimum speeds experienced by rural users have started to improve (with the baseline now 10 Mbps nationwide) ambalgzagreb.com. However, challenges such as electricity reliability, terrain (some mountain villages have no telecom at all), and economic factors mean the urban–rural digital divide, while narrowing, remains significant.

Government Regulations, Policies, and Initiatives

The Algerian government maintains a strong influence over the telecom sector. Algérie Télécom is state-owned, and the state now also holds a majority stake in mobile operator Djezzy, reflecting a policy of maintaining national control over critical communications infrastructure verdict.co.uk. The sector is overseen by the regulatory authority (ARPCE) under the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. Key aspects of Algeria’s telecom policy and regulation include:

• National Broadband Strategy: Algeria does not have a single published “broadband plan” document, but through government meetings and action plans it has set clear targets. These include raising internet penetration, boosting speeds, and transitioning to fiber. The Prime Minister’s office in 2023 outlined an action plan to improve internet connectivity, which led to upgrades in international capacity and the push for fiber to replace copper ambalgzagreb.com. The “Digital Algeria” initiative (often referred to in local media) aims to support the digital economy, with connectivity as a cornerstone. For example, tech parks like Sidi Abdellah are being developed to foster ICT research and startups trade.gov trade.gov.
• Infrastructure Investments: The government directly invested in backbone and submarine cables (the Orval/Alval cable was a government-backed project to diversify international links). It has also partnered with foreign tech firms (e.g. Huawei, Nokia, Ericsson) to upgrade networks. Huawei, in particular, has been granted major national projects (like building a new data center for Algeria and deploying AT’s 400G optical transmission network) trade.gov developingtelecoms.com. Such partnerships are part of Algeria’s strategy to modernize infrastructure quickly, though they raise some geopolitical eyebrows. The state emphasizes self-reliance too – for instance, encouraging local manufacturing of telecom equipment and electronics (Algeria has local companies like Condor assembling smartphones, and is aiming to create an electronics hub) trade.gov trade.gov.
• Telecom Regulation and Competition: The regulator (formerly ARPT, now regulatory authority under a new name) issues licenses and enforces quality. While mobile services are competitively provided by three operators, fixed broadband is effectively a monopoly of Algérie Télécom – no alternative ISPs offer wired access on any significant scale. The government has not liberalized the fixed market, which some criticize for limiting innovation reddit.com. However, there have been moves to increase infrastructure sharing: in 2022, Mobilis and Ooredoo signed an agreement to share mobile tower infrastructure to improve coverage and reduce duplication connectingafrica.com. Regulation also covers SIM registration (all SIMs must be registered to combat fraud) and periodic audits of coverage obligations. In the past, ARPCE fined operators for inadequate 4G rollout in certain wilayas accessnow.org, pushing them to expand service.
• Internet Censorship and Controls: Algeria’s government exercises some censorship and control over internet content, though it is not as pervasive as in some countries. A notable (and controversial) practice is the annual internet shutdown during national exams. Since 2016, Algeria has repeatedly ordered nationwide internet blackouts or social media blocks for a few hours on days of high-school baccalaureate exams smex.org accessnow.org. This is intended to prevent cheating (after exam questions leaked online in the past) aljazeera.com, but it disrupts the entire country’s connectivity and draws criticism from rights groups. For example, in June 2023 during exam week, Algeria implemented daily internet outages and social media restrictions smex.org netblocks.org. Beyond exam-related shutdowns, authorities have at times blocked specific news websites critical of the government cpj.org, and a 2020 law criminalized spreading “false news” online, which journalists saw as a tool to censor dissent rsf.org. The government also closely monitors social media for security reasons thefreeinternetproject.org.
• Cybersecurity and Data Laws: Algeria is quite strict on data sovereignty. A 2018 law (effective 2023) mandates that all personal data of Algerians be stored locally trade.gov trade.gov. This data localization policy affects foreign tech companies and is one reason services like Starlink face scrutiny (data would route outside Algerian control). Algeria has a National Authority for Personal Data Protection to enforce these rules trade.gov. On cybersecurity, the military (Ministry of Defense) leads national cyber strategy, reflecting a securitized approach to the internet trade.gov trade.gov. This sometimes puts heavy-handed controls in place (e.g. requiring authorization for certain cybersecurity products) but is aimed at protecting critical infrastructure.
• Public Initiatives: The government has rolled out e-government services and encouraged internet usage in public administration. During COVID-19, Algeria pushed more services online (like remote education platforms, though hampered by connectivity issues). The Ministry also launched programs to expand public Wi-Fi in universities and city centers, and to support tech startups through incubators. In 2022, a Ministry of Knowledge Economy and Startups was created, signaling political will to develop the digital sector trade.gov. This goes hand-in-hand with improving internet access nationwide.

In summary, government policy in Algeria combines heavy involvement (owning providers, directing investments) with an ambition to catch up technologically. There’s a palpable tension between controlling the internet (for political/security reasons) and promoting digital openness for economic growth. The current administration under President Tebboune has generally continued the policy of expanding infrastructure (fiber, 4G) while keeping a close grip via state ownership and selective censorship. The outcome is that Algeria has made substantial progress in connectivity metrics, but still lags in areas like internet freedom and private sector competition.

Key Players and Technology Providers

Algeria’s internet ecosystem involves a mix of state entities, private operators, and international technology partners. The key players include:

• Algérie Télécom (AT): The backbone of Algeria’s internet. Provides fixed telephony and broadband (Idoom ADSL/VDSL/Fibre) and mobile services via Mobilis. AT controls international gateways and much of the fiber infrastructure. It had about 5+ million fixed internet customers by 2023 ambalgzagreb.com. AT is spearheading fiber deployments and has subsidiaries like ATS (satellite) and Algeria Data Center. It’s essentially the monopoly ISP for fixed-line access. As a state enterprise, AT executes many government initiatives (e.g. price reductions, coverage of remote areas).
• Mobilis (ATM): Mobile arm of AT, holding the largest mobile market share (~22M users). Mobilis benefits from AT’s infrastructure for backhaul and is often first to roll out improvements (it was reportedly the first with some 4G sites and will likely be first with 5G). Mobilis brands itself with wide coverage including rural areas, leveraging AT’s towers and microwave links.
• Djezzy (Optimum Télécom Algérie): A prominent mobile operator launched by Orascom in the 2000s, later part of VEON. As of 2022, the Algerian government’s National Investment Fund (FNI) acquired full control of Djezzy verdict.co.uk. It has around 16 million subscribers oxfordbusinessgroup.com oxfordbusinessgroup.com. Djezzy was an early leader in Algeria’s mobile market and is known for innovation – for instance, it had rapid 3G rollout across all provinces by 2016 oxfordbusinessgroup.com oxfordbusinessgroup.com. Now under state influence, Djezzy collaborates rather than competes viciously with Mobilis. It focuses on urban markets and digital services (its Djezzy app, mobile money etc.).
• Ooredoo Algeria (Wataniya): The third mobile operator, owned by Ooredoo of Qatar. Entered in 2004, it currently serves ~13 million customers oxfordbusinessgroup.com. Ooredoo was the first to launch 4G in Algeria in 2016 oxfordbusinessgroup.com oxfordbusinessgroup.com, spurring competitors to follow. It is fully private and brings Gulf investment, but has to operate within Algerian regulations and faces two state-backed rivals. Ooredoo offers competitive pricing and has strong presence among younger, data-savvy users. It’s also engaged in corporate services (IoT, business solutions) and has trialed new technologies through partnerships.
• Algérie Télécom Satellite (ATS): Subsidiary of AT focused on satellite comms. Manages Alcomsat-1 utilization and provides VSAT links for clients (government, corporations, remote sites). Also involved in TV broadcasting uplinks. ATS’s role is growing as the government leans on satellite for rural connectivity. It may partner with foreign satellite operators or service providers to enhance offerings.
• Regulator (ARPCE): Not a “player” in service provision but influential. Sets license terms, quality standards, and resolves disputes. For instance, ARPCE monitors quality of service – publishing reports on internet speeds and outages – and can sanction operators. It also manages spectrum allocation (which will be crucial for 5G). The regulator has pushed improvements like number portability and tariff reductions, albeit slowly.

On the technology vendor side, several global companies are deeply involved in Algeria’s internet development:

• Huawei (China): Perhaps the most significant vendor, Huawei has contracts for mobile network equipment (especially with Mobilis and Djezzy), fiber optics, and even cloud/data center projects in Algeria trade.gov. Huawei built a new government data center and is providing AT with advanced optical transmission gear (400G WDM) developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. Huawei’s presence aligns with Algeria’s long partnership with China – e.g. Alcomsat-1 was built and launched with Chinese assistance. Huawei also trains Algerian engineers and may be involved in eventual 5G rollout, pending political approval.
• Nokia and Ericsson (Europe): Both have supplied mobile RAN (Radio Access Network) equipment in Algeria. For example, Nokia helped Djezzy’s rapid 3G expansion by deploying hundreds of sites in 2016 oxfordbusinessgroup.com oxfordbusinessgroup.com. Ericsson has worked on AT’s broadband network modernization developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. While Huawei currently leads, Nokia/Ericsson are likely candidates for 5G core networks or urban deployments, especially if Algeria seeks a balance of vendors.
• Cisco/Juniper: Used in IP networks and routing. A recent project with NEC and Juniper provided AT a “5G-ready” IP metro network, upgrading the capacity and reliability of Algeria’s internet backbone developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. This kind of upgrade helps in handling the surge in data traffic.
• Others: ZTE (China) might have a smaller presence (possibly some 3G gear historically). IBM and Microsoft have provided software and IT solutions for e-government. On satellite tech, China Great Wall Industry Corp built Alcomsat-1, and companies like Thales Alenia (French-Italian) provided some ground segment tech.

Additionally, local tech companies play a role in user access. Algerian companies like Condor produce smartphones and routers at affordable prices, aiding internet uptake. Another example is start-ups in Algiers offering localized content and services (ride-hailing apps, e-commerce) which incentivize people to get online.

Overall, Algeria’s internet progress is the result of collaboration between these players: the government setting direction, public and private operators implementing services, and international tech firms supplying the necessary tools. The balance has shifted a bit towards state dominance in recent years (with Djezzy’s nationalization and heavy government projects), but all three mobile operators remain active and the continued involvement of companies like Huawei and Nokia ensures Algeria stays updated with modern tech.

Challenges (Speed, Accessibility, Censorship, Reliability)

Despite notable improvements, Algeria faces several challenges in its internet sector:

• Network Speed and Capacity: While speeds have improved, Algeria still ranks low globally. A median fixed speed of ~15 Mbps datareportal.com is well below global averages, and many users complain of slow or inconsistent speeds. Congestion is an issue at peak times, as usage grows faster than infrastructure in some areas. The jump from 1.5 Tbps to 7.8 Tbps international capacity by 2022 ambalgzagreb.com was a big step, but further capacity upgrades will be needed as data demand climbs (streaming HD video, cloud services, etc.). Ensuring the new Orval and Medex cables are fully utilized and maybe adding a fourth submarine cable (plans have been mentioned ecofinagency.com) will be important. Domestic backhaul is another bottleneck in some regions – the push to fiber should alleviate this, but until then, older microwave links and copper aggregations can slow down local networks.
• Accessibility and Affordability: Although basic internet is relatively cheap, not everyone can afford devices or monthly fees. There is a segment of the population, particularly in rural and low-income groups, for whom even 1600 DZD/month for ADSL (≈$12) algerietelecom.dz algerietelecom.dz is burdensome. Smartphone penetration is high in cities but less so in poorer rural areas. The government’s efforts like providing free internet to some schools, and even the possibility of community Wi-Fi centers, need scaling up. Gender and age gaps also exist – fewer women and older citizens use the internet, often due to cultural and educational factors. Improving digital literacy and showing the usefulness of the internet for all demographics is a social challenge beyond just infrastructure.
• Censorship and Internet Freedom: The recurring internet shutdowns for exams and the blocking of certain websites have created a chilling effect. Users are aware that the government can and will cut off access or filter content when it deems necessary. This undermines trust in the network’s reliability for things like online businesses or critical communications. For instance, businesses have complained about losing money during the exam shutdown periods smex.org accessnow.org. Algeria often scores “Not Free” or “Partly Free” in internet freedom indices due to these controls and the legal persecution of online activists under broad laws. Balancing national security and exam integrity with the need for an open, reliable internet is an ongoing challenge. There have been calls (from civil society and international observers) for Algeria to find alternatives to full shutdowns – e.g. better proctoring or targeted blocking rather than blanket outages smex.org accessnow.org.
• Reliability and Power Supply: Some remote areas suffer from frequent power outages, which directly affect internet uptime (even mobile towers need electricity or generator fuel). Network infrastructure vandalism (cable theft) and environmental wear (extreme heat in the Sahara, etc.) also pose reliability issues. AT has had to deal with copper cable theft in the past – a factor motivating the fiber rollout (fiber has less resale value to thieves) wearetech.africa. Ensuring stable power and protecting infrastructure is part of the reliability challenge. Moreover, cybersecurity threats (like hacking of government websites or telecom systems) are a growing concern, which could impact service reliability if not managed. The government’s tight control approach is partly to mitigate such threats, but it will need more investment in cybersecurity measures and skilled personnel to prevent outages or data breaches.
• Regulatory Environment: The slow pace of some regulatory decisions (such as 5G licensing) can hinder advancement. Algeria must be careful that its desire for control doesn’t translate into stagnation. If 5G is delayed too long, for example, it could fall behind neighbors or miss out on industrial applications of 5G. Similarly, by keeping fixed broadband a monopoly, Algeria risks less innovation in services and customer service quality. Introducing carefully regulated competition (for example, allowing alternative fiber ISPs in new housing developments) could be beneficial. The challenge is to do this without undermining the financial viability of Algérie Télécom, which the state heavily relies on.
• International Perception and Brain Drain: A softer challenge is that talented IT professionals often emigrate due to better opportunities abroad, which can slow the development of local internet content and services. Also, foreign investors might be cautious given Algeria’s regulatory strictness (e.g. the data localization law can deter global cloud providers). The government has started easing some investment rules and creating tech startup funds to counter this, but it’s a gradual process.

In summary, Algeria’s internet progress is real but uneven. It must continue infrastructure expansion while making internet access truly universal (geographically and socially). It needs to improve quality and speed to meet modern usage demands. And it faces a need to liberalize and innovate, without compromising the state’s goals of security and sovereignty. How Algeria navigates these challenges in the next few years – especially with the transition to fiber and 5G – will determine if it can catch up with (or even surpass) regional peers in digital development.

Comparative Analysis: Algeria vs. North Africa and Global Benchmarks

Within North Africa, Algeria’s internet landscape has both similarities and differences compared to its neighbors:

• Overall Internet Penetration: Algeria (~73%–77% internet users in 2023-2025 trade.gov datareportal.com) lags behind Morocco (~88%–91% in 2023 datareportal.com) and is slightly below Tunisia (~79–80% datareportal.com). Morocco in particular has achieved a higher penetration thanks to very widespread mobile usage and competitive ISPs (Maroc Telecom, Orange, Inwi) driving adoption. Egypt is around the same level as Algeria (~72% in 2023) statista.com datareportal.com despite its lower income per capita, due to sheer population and improving infrastructure. So Algeria is in the mid-range – not the highest in Africa, but well above the continental average (~43% in 2022). It’s notable that Algeria’s internet usage rate is now about on par with the global average (around 75% of world population online).
• Fixed Broadband Penetration: Here Algeria outshines many peers. With 12 subscriptions per 100 people theglobaleconomy.com, Algeria is ahead of Morocco (~6.5 per 100) statista.com and Tunisia (~8 per 100). In absolute numbers, Algeria’s ~5.5 million fixed broadband lines ambalgzagreb.com exceed Morocco’s (which has fewer due to more reliance on mobile for internet) and are second only to Egypt’s (~13 million) in Africa tradingeconomics.com ts2.tech. Algeria’s heavy investment in FTTH is somewhat unique in Africa – by 2025, FTTH made up ~70% of fixed connections in Algeria (over 2 million fiber out of ~7.4 million total fixed subscriptions in Q1 2024) developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com, indicating a rapid modernization that many countries haven’t matched. For example, Morocco and Tunisia still have a large share of ADSL lines and less fiber coverage in homes. Algeria’s strategy of upgrading speeds for all users (raising minimum to 10 Mbps) also sets it apart in the region, where in some neighboring countries you still find 4 Mbps or lower plans common.
• Mobile Sector: All North African countries have three major mobile operators, often including at least one state-affiliated and one or two foreign-owned (Orange, Vodafone, Etisalat, etc., depending on the country). Algeria’s peculiarity is that now two of its three operators are state-controlled (Mobilis and Djezzy), which could affect competition dynamics. By contrast, Morocco’s operators are all privatized (even Maroc Telecom has significant foreign ownership), potentially contributing to Morocco’s faster rollout of services and higher penetration. 4G coverage in Algeria (~82% pop. in 2022 ambalgzagreb.com) is a bit behind Morocco (which was claiming ~99% population 4G coverage by 2021) and also behind Tunisia (which has over 90% pop. 4G coverage). This is an area Algeria can improve, though ongoing efforts should close the gap. 5G: None of the Maghreb countries had launched 5G commercially as of mid-2025, but Morocco appears poised to start by end of 2025 (targeting 25% coverage) moroccoworldnews.com, whereas Algeria is looking at trials through 2025. Egypt and some Gulf Arab states have already introduced 5G on a limited scale, so Algeria will want to avoid falling behind Middle Eastern peers in that regard.
• Pricing: Internet prices in Algeria are generally lower than in Morocco or Tunisia for comparable packages. For instance, fixed broadband at ~$16 for 30 Mbps unlimited algerietelecom.dz is significantly cheaper than in Morocco, where 20 Mbps ADSL was around $30–$40 in recent years. Mobile data in Algeria (in terms of $ per GB) is also quite cheap – 1 GB can cost well under $1 on large plans – similar to Egypt and cheaper than Tunisia. One reason is government influence keeping prices low, as well as the availability of state-subsidized backbone. However, lower prices don’t automatically mean higher usage – factors like service quality and digital literacy also play roles.
• Speed Rankings: Algeria’s average speeds rank low globally. As of late 2022, Cable UK’s worldwide broadband speed survey ranked Algeria around 174th of 180 countries (with an average of ~9 Mbps) oxfordbusinessgroup.com oxfordbusinessgroup.com, though this has improved with recent upgrades. It still trails Morocco and Tunisia in speed tests – for example, Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index often showed Morocco’s fixed and mobile speeds roughly double those of Algeria in 2021–22. The gap is narrowing now that Algeria has fiber widely and Morocco still has many on ADSL, but Algeria will need to boost its international connectivity and reduce latency to climb further in global speed rankings.
• Digital Services Ecosystem: Compared to peers, Algeria has been somewhat slower in developing online services and startups, partly due to the constraints of its internet (past slow speeds, censorship worries). For instance, online banking and e-commerce took off faster in Morocco. But Algeria is catching up – mobile payment interoperability was launched (“Switch” system) to connect banks and mobile wallets budde.com.au, and startup investment is growing. Censorship-wise, Tunisia post-Arab Spring had a much freer internet climate (until recent political changes), whereas Algeria maintained a more controlled approach. Morocco and Egypt also monitor internet content but rarely impose total shutdowns like Algeria’s exam outages. In global indices (like Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net), Algeria tends to score lower (less free) than Tunisia and Morocco historically, though not as low as more repressive regimes.

Global context: Algeria, as of 2025, stands as an upper-middle performer in internet access among developing countries. It has achieved a level of internet user penetration roughly on par with the world average, which is a commendable feat given its size and challenges. Its fixed broadband growth is a success story in Africa. However, it still lags far behind advanced economies in every metric (speeds, fiber to the home penetration, 5G availability, etc.). For example, South Korea or EU countries enjoy near-100% internet use, gigabit commonplace, and mature 5G networks – Algeria will take years to approach that level. Even within Africa, smaller countries like Tunisia or South Africa may have higher quality networks in some respects (Tunisia had higher penetration and South Africa has much faster fixed broadband in major cities). Nonetheless, Algeria’s focus on infrastructure is positioning it to leapfrog in certain areas (e.g. going straight to widespread FTTH is something even South Africa or Egypt have not done yet at Algeria’s scale).

In summary, Algeria’s internet development is a mixed picture: regionally strong in some aspects (number of fixed connections, affordable pricing) while weaker in others (internet freedom, 4G coverage breadth). The country is on an upward trajectory – if it continues to invest in networks and smart regulation, it could emerge as a North African leader in connectivity. The coming few years, with the fiber rollout completion and introduction of 5G, will be pivotal. Globally, Algeria aims to narrow the digital gap separating it from developed nations, aligning with the broader goal of transforming its economy and society through digital technology.

Sources: The information in this report is based on the latest data from official sources and reputable analyses, including Algeria’s Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Algérie Télécom releases, international organizations, and telecom industry reports. Key references include the U.S. International Trade Administration’s 2024 Algeria Digital Economy overview trade.gov trade.gov, press statements from the Algerian Prime Minister’s office ambalgzagreb.com ambalgzagreb.com, DataReportal’s Algeria 2023 and 2025 digital reports datareportal.com datareportal.com, and news from outlets like APS (Algerian Press Service) ambalgzagreb.com ambalgzagreb.com, Developing Telecoms developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com, and MyBroadband mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za. These sources provide a comprehensive and up-to-date view of Algeria’s internet access landscape. Each statistic and claim is backed by these references to ensure accuracy and recency.