(Ecofin Agency) - Digital technology is at the heart of Algeria's socio-economic development strategies. To accelerate the realization of its digital transformation ambitions, the government is multiplying initiatives to guarantee connectivity services for the entire population.   

Algeria has included some 1,400 territorial zones with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants in the new Universal Telecom Service Program. This was revealed by Telecom Minister Karim Bibi (photo) at a plenary session of the national assembly last June 22. 

The mechanism was initiated by the government to enable sparsely populated areas not covered by operators to benefit from development programs covering the telecom sector. Similar mechanisms have been implemented to improve fixed telephone and Internet coverage in these areas.

These initiatives are in line with the Algerian government's ambitions to develop an "information society" through infrastructure, telecommunications resources, and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

This government project is expected to bring basic telecommunications services to thousands more people across the country. According to the latest data from Algeria's postal and electronic communications regulatory authority (ARPCE), the country has 49.02 million cell phone subscribers, with a penetration rate of 111.05%. However, the actual statistics are likely to be lower. They are skewed, as some people have several SIM cards registered in their names.

Isaac K. Kassouwi