Algeria has warned mobile telecom operators of possible sanctions, including financial penalties and licence suspensions, if they fail to improve network coverage along key national highways, authorities said.
The warning was issued during a meeting on Tuesday reviewing the quality of telecommunications services across the country, with a focus on major transport corridors.
The session was chaired by Post and Telecommunications Minister Sid Ali Zerrouki and included representatives of the telecom regulator, the ARPCE, as well as mobile network operators.
Officials said the government’s immediate priority is to improve coverage along the East–West Highway and several strategic north–south routes, including National Roads 1, 3 and 6.
Authorities said previous deadlines given to operators to improve service quality along these routes had expired without full compliance.
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The government now plans to set new deadlines for extending coverage, particularly in remote and desert regions where connectivity remains weak or inconsistent.
Officials said the initiative is part of a broader national strategy to improve digital infrastructure and ensure continuous mobile service across Algeria’s vast territory.
They added that reliable telecom coverage along highways is not only an economic issue but also a matter of public safety and national security, given the importance of transport corridors for passenger and freight movement.
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Under Algerian telecommunications law, regulators can issue formal notices to operators requiring compliance within 30 days.
If operators fail to correct deficiencies, the ARPCE can impose fines of up to 5 percent of annual turnover, excluding taxes, or 10 percent in cases of repeated violations.
For companies without established turnover records, penalties may reach 15 million Algerian dinars (about $113,500), rising to 30 million dinars for repeat breaches.
In more serious or persistent cases, the communications minister may, on the regulator’s recommendation, suspend or even withdraw operating licences.
Despite the strict framework, authorities said regulatory measures are designed to ensure continuity of service and protect subscribers.
The push reflects growing pressure across North Africa to modernise digital infrastructure as governments seek to expand connectivity, support economic activity and improve access to services in rural and underserved regions.
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Telecom operators in Algeria have previously faced criticism over uneven coverage outside major urban centres, particularly along long-distance road networks crossing sparsely populated areas.
Officials said continued monitoring will determine whether operators meet the new requirements or face enforcement action in the coming months.
