Algerian Radio
The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, delivered an address on Saturday to the participants of the "Global Africa Tech 2026" event, which is being held in Algiers from March 28 to 30. Here is the translation of the speech:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Prayers and peace be upon the most noble of Messengers,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ministers of brotherly African countries,
Heads of participating delegations,
Ladies and Gentlemen representing international and regional organizations,
Ladies and Gentlemen representing diplomatic missions accredited to Algeria,
Ladies and Gentlemen, experts in the digital field,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press,
Distinguished guests,
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
Algeria has the honor and pleasure of hosting this major event, with its continental dimension and international reach. It is a unifying event that we hope will provide an ideal opportunity to strengthen inter-African cooperation and serve as a starting point for boosting the Africa-International partnership in the development of telecommunications infrastructure and the promotion of the use of information technologies by African citizens, within the framework of a unified and integrated forward-looking vision aimed at establishing African digital sovereignty.
This is a strategic vision that we will strive, by pooling our efforts, to put at the service of the comprehensive and sustainable development of our continent, rich in its innovative capacities and creative human energies.
Allow me, at the outset of this happy occasion, to welcome you and wish you a pleasant stay among your brothers in Algeria.
I would also like to extend to all of you, each in your respective name and capacity, my warmest greetings and sincere thanks for accepting the invitation and honoring this event with your presence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The development of the telecommunications sector, as a lever for development in its economic, social, cultural, and other aspects of modern life, constitutes, in the current juncture, a decisive challenge, even a strategic issue of primary importance for Africa, and beyond that, a genuine right to development for our peoples.
In a global context marked by technological competition and a rapid succession of innovations, our continent must, to guarantee its place in this accelerated digital dynamic, strengthen its capacities in the fields of telecommunications network infrastructure and interconnectivity.
Connectivity infrastructures (terrestrial, spatial, and maritime) are now at the heart of public policies aimed at building an Africa that is integrated economically and humanly, resilient, competitive, and in control of its own networks.
Distinguished guests,
In light of these considerations, no region of Africa should be left on the margins of modern telecommunications networks and the opportunities they offer. Wherever telecommunications are available, knowledge, investment, employment, and essential services also develop.
In an equally important complementary aspect, strengthening telecommunications capacities fosters the emergence of innovative enterprises, integration into value chains, and the creation of highly qualified jobs.
Thus, telecommunications constitute one of the most powerful tools for promoting economic, financial, and social inclusion, and one of the most effective levers for generating wealth and stimulating innovation.
From a concrete economic perspective on our continent, the interconnection of African networks proves essential to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This implies that Africa must be connected to itself in order to fully unleash its economic potential.
Without fiber optic corridors, without shared data capacities, and without secure infrastructure, there can be no integrated African market.
Infrastructure integration and capacity sharing constitute the fastest path to bridging the digital divide between our countries.
With this in mind, our common challenge and supreme goal consist of unifying the African space—terrestrial, maritime, and spatial—within a sovereign and integrated telecommunications infrastructure, through close cooperation and fruitful partnerships.
Distinguished guests,
Conscious of the requirements and challenges related to digital sovereignty, which lie at the heart of its national development priorities, Algeria has initiated and continues to invest in its material resources, organizational capacities, and human skills to develop and modernize its telecommunications networks.
The considerable investments mobilized to strengthen international connectivity capacities and domestic links have made it possible to achieve a qualitative leap in internet access indicators, as well as the generalization of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, with constant attention paid to ensuring balance and equity in their distribution across a vast and extensive territory.
Among the major achievements and accomplishments of my country are the significant increase in international bandwidth capacity, the extensive expansion of the fiber optic network deployed in all regions of the country, and crossing the threshold of three (3) million homes connected to Fiber to the Home (FTTH) technology. This technology will be generalized by the end of 2027, not to mention the increase in bandwidth speed and the deployment of the internet across the territory.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Algeria, by virtue of its influential economic and geostrategic position in Africa, is ready and able to play the role of an active player and a center of excellence in strengthening African digital sovereignty. While reaffirming its full readiness to mobilize its telecommunications infrastructure potential and human expertise to achieve this ambitious goal, it is translating its intentions into concrete actions through exemplary initiatives currently being implemented on the ground, including the Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Backbone project.
My country's commitment to serving this unified African approach is manifested through the hosting of this event, in alignment with the objectives of the initiatives of the African Union, the International Telecommunication Union, as well as major continental programs (NEPAD, Smart Africa, among others).
We hope that this event will serve as an interactive space for consultation and a platform for exchanging visions and ideas, as well as sharing expertise and good practices, with a view to drafting a unified technological strategy capable of achieving our common goal of an interconnected, strong, and sovereign Africa in the digital realm.
It will also reflect our collective commitment to bridging the digital divide observed in access to information and communication technologies (ICT), and our determination to control the flow of our data, produce our own services, and create added value within our borders.
Finally, investing in communications infrastructure in Africa means investing in growth, stability, and shared prosperity.
On this occasion, we call for the establishment of partnerships based on joint investment, technology transfer, and the development of African human skills.
I wish you every success in your work and fruitful exchanges leading to useful proposals and practical recommendations, and I renew my welcome to you in your country.
May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you."
