Telecommunications in Algeria
Types of communications in Algeria, including telephones, mass media and the Internet.
In October 2013, the Algeria Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunication awarded 3G licences to the three mobile operators in Algeria: Mobilis, Ooredoo Algeria and Djezzy. The mobile operator companies promised their clients better mobile internet service.
Telephony
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.068 millioncountry comparison to the world: 48
Telephones - mobile cellular: 43.227 million
country comparison to the world: 31
Telephone system: domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat, 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Mass media
- Radio broadcast stations: AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8
- Radios: 7.1 million
- Television broadcast stations: 46
- Televisions: 3.1 million
Internet
Internet Service Providers : 03Internet Hosts: 477
country comparison to the world: 161
Internet Users: 20 million
country comparison to the world: 51
Country codes: .dz
Controversy
In October 2013, the Algeria Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunication awarded 3G licences to the three mobile operators in Algeria: Mobilis, Ooredoo, and Djezzy. The mobile operator companies promised their clients better mobile internet service.The authority imposed on mobile operators a 3G double numbering license. This double numbering system requires any citizen that wishes to use the 3G service, must hold two separate 2G and 3G mobile numbers. Having two numbers with two different mobile internet access is more expensive and inconvenient.