Continued delays in the introduction of 3G licensing in Algeria has led to limited competition and a reduction in the overall infrastructure and service for the country’s mobile network operators, analysts say.
“It really needs to get moving if we as a country are going to fully enter the technological age,” began Yussif Ramadan, an IT expert and analyst based in Algiers, “because it is unacceptable that Algeria has not been more forceful in developing our mobile technology.”
The country’s ministry of communications did say on Monday that it hoped that licensing would commence sometime this year, but a specific date has not been given.
Fixed-line incumbent Algerie Telecom has expanded its ADSL and WiMAX networks and upgraded its CDMA WLL system with broadband capabilities, according to a report from Research and Markets.
With ADSL prices at the lowest levels in Africa, ISPs in the country have announced plans to launch their own WiMAX wireless broadband infrastructure to combat the 3G delay.
The liberalization of VoIP Internet telephony is also enabling them to become players in the voice market as well, Research and Markets added in a press release.
Many operators have introduced converged triple-play voice, data and video services. Algerian Telecom is investing heavily in the expansion of its national fiber infrastructure.
By Jonathan Terry
