Algeria Fiber Optic Cable Laying Construction

Algeria is rapidly expanding its fiber optic infrastructure through undersea cables, national FTTx networks, and domestic manufacturing to enhance connectivity and digital transformation.

Undersea Cable Projects

Algeria is actively developing its submarine fiber optic network to meet growing data demand. The Medusa cable, spanning over 8,700 km, connects Algeria to multiple Mediterranean countries with a capacity of 20 terabits per second per fiber pair. Construction occurred from 2023 to 2026, with full commissioning expected in early 2027, positioning Algeria as a key regional connectivity hub and supporting 5G, cloud computing, and digital sovereignty initiatives . Additionally, the Africa-1 cable is expected to enter service in 2026, offering 200–300 Gbps capacity . Algeria currently connects to five other submarine cables, including TE North, SeaMeWe-4, and ORVAL, with a total installed capacity of 10.2 terabits per second .

National FTTx Deployment

Algeria Telecom, in partnership with FiberHome, is accelerating the rollout of FTTx optical access networks to replace aging copper infrastructure. Since 2019, FiberHome has helped Algeria transition from MSAN to GPON/XGSPON networks, deploying Wi-Fi 6 ONTs, ODN passive equipment, and drop cables. By the end of 2023, over 1.08 million households had access to FTTx, up from 53,000 in 2020 . This expansion is part of a national broadband strategy to provide high-speed internet across urban and remote areas, including the Sahara Desert.

Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Backbone

Algeria is also completing the Trans-Saharan fiber-optic backbone, with nearly 2,600 km of cable linking Algiers to In Guezzam and extending to Tindouf. This project connects Algeria with Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania, enabling non-coastal African countries to access high-speed internet and fostering digital trade and financial services .

Domestic Fiber Manufacturing

To support these initiatives, Algeria has developed domestic fiber optic manufacturing capabilities through companies like Polaris, which provides vertically integrated production from optical fiber preform to finished cable assemblies. This ensures quality, supply security, and compliance with ITU-T and IEC standards, while supporting deployment in challenging environments such as deserts and submarine crossings .

Strategic Impact

These combined efforts—undersea cables, national FTTx networks, trans-Saharan backbone, and domestic manufacturing—are transforming Algeria's digital landscape, increasing internet speeds, expanding broadband access, and positioning the country as a regional technology hub. Internet subscriptions in Algeria grew from 18.6 million in 2015 to 59.1 million by mid-2025, with data consumption rising from 379.7 million GB in 2020 to 3.3 billion GB in 2025 . This infrastructure supports the broader digital economy, 5G deployment, and regional connectivity initiatives.