Algeria Telecom Undertakes SMW4 Cable Maintenance; Ooredoo Expands 5G Network
Image: TSA
Takeaway
The completion of SMW4 maintenance ensures continued reliable connectivity for Algeria, a key factor for international businesses operating in the region. Ooredoo's 5G expansion presents opportunities for telecom equipment providers and application developers. Investors should monitor Algérie Télécom's AI investment fund for potential early-stage opportunities in Algerian tech startups.
Algeria's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced the completion of scheduled maintenance on the SMW4 submarine fiber optic cable on March 10, 2026. The maintenance, conducted at the Palermo, Italy station, was part of routine preventative measures for international telecommunications infrastructure. The ministry stated that the maintenance work was completed on schedule and did not impact the quality of internet service in Algeria.
Algeria has been actively developing its telecom infrastructure, supported by regulatory measures and government policies aimed at improving internet connectivity across the country. Minister of Post and Telecommunications Sid Ali Zerrouki has been a key figure in these efforts. A key initiative is the planned phasing out of the copper wire network by the end of 2027, replacing it with fiber optic technology. As of April 29, 2025, Minister Zerrouki noted the connection of two million Algerian households to fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure. The government invested over $3.7 billion in its ICT infrastructure from 2010 to 2019.
The South East Asia-Middle East-West Europe 4 (SEA-ME-WE 4, SMW4) is an approximately 18,800 km submarine cable connecting Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, Tunisia, Algeria and France. The SMW4 cable system, which became operational on December 13, 2005, initially had a design capacity of 1.28Tbps, upgraded to 4.6Tbps in 2015. The SMW4 project cost approximately US$500 million and was supplied by ASN and Fujitsu jointly. Algérie Télécom is one of the 16 telecom operators in the SMW4 Consortium.
Ooredoo Algérie announced on March 9, 2026, the expansion of its 5G network to all wilayas (provinces) in the country. The company stated that it would reinforce the network by increasing the number of stations to ensure optimal coverage and user experience. As of 2023, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks covered 98.5%, 98.2%, and 90.4% of the Algerian population, respectively, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In Q1 2022, Mobilis held 42.59% market share, followed by Optimum Telecom Algerie, with 30.76 percent, and Wataniya Telecom Algerie (Ooredoo) with 26.65 percent.
Looking ahead, Algeria plans to extend mobile network coverage to 4,500 additional areas by 2027, focusing on villages and rural zones with between 500 and 2,000 residents. The government aims for AI to contribute 7% to its GDP by 2027 and is investing in AI infrastructure, including the launch of the country's first high-performance computing center dedicated to AI in Oran. Algérie Télécom established a USD 11 million (DZD 1.5 billion) investment fund to support AI startups, cybersecurity, and robotics.