Telecommunications
Structure and Policy
Law no. 2000-03 of
August 5, 2000 created two operators - Algérie Poste and Algérie
Télécom. It also created an independent regulatory authority of posts and
telecommunication.
Internet service
provision was opened up by decree no. 98-257 of 5 August 1998. Although more than 70
companies have received licenses, 5 have entered the market so far.
Algeria spent
heavily on telecommunication infrastructure during when oil revenues were the highest in
the 1970s and early 1980s. As a result, the network is in a relatively good condition
despite the need to expand in response to additional demands and traffic on the network.
Nonetheless, Algeria is now facing economic as well as political difficulties which make
it difficult to upgrade the existing telecommunication network.
The current
domestic network in Algeria consists of over 50 domestic satellite earth stations. Algeria
also installed 13,000 kilometres of fibre optic links to form the core north-south and
east-west fibre optic backbone. The transmission network is approximately 70% digital. Six
submarine fibre optic cable links are established with France, Italy, and Spain, and the
SEA-ME-WE2 link. Algeria is a member of ARABSAT, INTELSAT, and INMARSAT.
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ICT
Networking Development
Le Centre
d’étude et de recherche sur l’information scientifique et technique (CERIST)
is the government organization responsible for the promoting the use of scientific and
technical information, as well as supporting the use of ICTs and networking a the national
level. CERIST is also involved in regional projects with other Maghrebian countries in the
North Africa.
Currently the only
provider of Internet service in Algeria, CERIST facilitated the presence of various
research organizations on the Internet. There are 13 national research centres with
varying levels of computerization and CERIST is planning to link them under a government
project entitled, Système National d’Information Scientifique et Technique.
The project includes the development of regional nodes, sectoral/thematic networks and
connection to the international networks.
A leased line link
from CERIST in Algiers to EBONE in Paris was established in 1994. The funding comes from
part of UNESCO’s RINAF project (mainly in the form of equipment and training). The
connection speed maintained through this link is 64Kbps. Telecommunication costs are
financed by the Algerian Government which thus far have included about 40 computers and 10
routers connected to the national network.
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ICT Partners and
Projects
1. Decision
Support System for Coastal Management
A capacity
development programme for the countries surrounding the Mediterranean to assist them in
using remote sensing data, GIS systems and Multi-Criteria Aid Techniques (MCAD) for
coastal resource management and pollution abatement. Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and
Egypt.
2. Sustainable
Development Networking Programme (SDNP)
Agenda
21/Sustainable Development networking support which focused on providing Internet access
but is now increasingly working on building content. There are operational or formative
nodes in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique,
Chad, Togo, Tunisia. Four of the national projects have established local ICT training and
train the trainer programmes (Benin, Cameroon, Morocco and Mozambique).
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