Algeria Opens Tender to Extend Mobile Coverage to 3,000 Underserved Areas

Algeria’s Postal and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARPCE)  has launched a competitive bidding process aimed at extending mobile wireless network coverage to 3,000 sparsely populated areas across the country.

The tender, announced on September 7, 2026, is part of the regulator’s mandate under Law No. 18-04 of May 10, 2018, which establishes the framework governing postal and electronic communications in Algeria.

According to the authority, the initiative is designed to advance the provision of universal electronic communications services, with a particular focus on improving access to internet connectivity in areas where low population density has limited network deployment.

The programme forms part of broader government efforts to reduce disparities in access to digital services between different population groups and geographical areas. By extending infrastructure to underserved communities, the regulator expects the project to improve the availability of telecommunications services across the country.

Beyond connectivity, the initiative is expected to support the digital, social and economic development of sparsely populated communities. Greater access to electronic communications could also strengthen social inclusion and help create an environment in which residents can participate more fully in the country’s growing digital economy.

The authority said the expansion will contribute to ensuring that access to electronic communications services is not determined by where people live, while supporting broader efforts to strengthen digital inclusion across Algeria.