The post and telecommunications sector is governed at the international level by specialized organizations that bring together all countries of the world in order to define jointly strategies and programs, with significant consequences for the future of the world economy as well as the future of multilateral technical cooperation.
Algeria, along with other countries, has joined this global system, and participate regularly and actively, in dialogues, initiatives and events of international, regional and sub regional levels, linked to the development of post and telecommunications, through the Ministry of Post and telecommunications, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad. These are, mainly:
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the principal specialized institution of the United Nations Organization (UNO) for communication and information technologies. Founded in 1869 and based in Geneva (Switzerland), it today has 193 Member States, to which are added regulators of the ICT sector, public and private sector companies and university and academic establishments.
The Union’s main mission is to promote the growth and sustainable development of telecommunications and information networks, to facilitate universal access, so that everyone can participate in the information society and knowledge economy, and to benefit from their advantages. The main priority is to reduce the digital divide by promoting capacity building and increasing confidence in the use of cyberspace through better online security.
The ITU is organized into (03) main areas of activities or “sectors” which work, among others, within the framework of conferences and meetings:
- The Radiocommunications Sector (ITU-R)
- The Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T)
- The Telecommunications Development Sector (ITU-D).
The Union’s organs are
- The Plenipotentiary Conference (PP) is held every (04) years
- The Council is held annually
- The General Secretariat.
Each Sector organizes its Strategic Conferences every (04) years and annual Commissions meetings for the implementation of the various decisions and resolutions adopted.
Algeria has joined the ITU in 1963. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications is the national Focal Point.
The Algerie Telecom Group, the Postal Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARPCE), the Center for Development of Advanced Technologies (CDTA) and the Higher National School of Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies (ENSTTIC) are members of all sectors of the Organization; ICOSNET Company is a member of the Telecommunication Development Sector.
Algeria has been a member of the Council of the Union since 1965. In October 2022 during the 21st Plenipotentiary Conference (PP22), our country was re-elected for the 14th consecutive time, since its accession, for the Africa region with 12 other African countries, for the period 2023 -2026.
1. The Plenipotentiary Conference (PP)
It is the Supreme Body of the Union which holds its meetings every (4) years to determine the general principles of the Union and decide its future strategic plan. The 21st Conference took place from September 26 to October 14, 2022 in Bucharest (Romania). Algeria participates regularly through delegations led by the Minister of Post and Telecommunications.
2. The Council
It meets once (1) a year at the Union Headquarters, to consider and discuss telecommunications policy issues and ensure the proper functioning of the Union. Its members are elected by the Conference and divided into five (5) regions. For the period 2023-2026, the Council comprises (48) member states, including Algeria. Algeria was re-elected at the last Conference of Plenipotentiaries (PP22) for the Africa Region, with 138 votes. As a reminder, Algeria has been regularly elected member of the ITU Council since 1965 because of its constructive and effective contribution to the Union’s activities.
During this period, Algeria, in its capacity of the Chair of the Plenipotentiary Conference of the African Telecommunication Union, ensures the coordination of the African Group participation to the 2023 ITU Council Session.
ITU’s three Sectors
Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)
It is responsible of allocating spectrum and recording frequency assignments and orbital positions, in order to avoid harmful interference between radio stations in countries. It is made up of Study Commissions, which meet periodically and submit their work for approval to the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), the major Conference of the Sector, which takes place every 3 or 4 years. WRC-23 took place from 20 November to 14 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, preceded by the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-23) from 13 to 17 November 2023, responsible for establishing the regulatory and technical basis for WRC-23.
Algeria takes part regularly through a national multi-sectoral delegation.
Standardization Sector (ITU-T)
It brings together experts in the field to debate the technical specifications of communication systems, for new and emerging networks. It consists of several Study Commissions that meet regularly.
The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) is held every 4 years, aiming to define the activities and priorities of the Sector for the upcoming cycle. The last Assembly (WTSA-20) took place at the Union’s headquarters in Geneva, from 1 to 9 March …. 2022, at which, Algeria was represented by a multi-sectoral delegation. WTSA-24 -24 is scheduled to take place in New Delhi, India, from October 25 to November 14, 2024.
Preparatory process is already on going at the national, regional and international levels, to which our country contributes actively.
Development Sector (ITU-D)
It contributes on providing equitable and sustainable access to ICT, in order to promote socio-economic development. Two (2) Study Commissions are active in this Sector. The ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau is divided into six (6) regional offices around the world. Algeria is covered by the Arab Regional Office located in Cairo (Egypt). The major event in this sector is the World Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC), which is held every 4 years, in order to establish work programs and guidelines relating to the development of telecommunications/ICT. The last Conference (8th) took place in Kigali, Rwanda from June 6 to 15, 2022. Algerian participation was active and fruitful and served to strengthen Algeria’s position during PP-22.
The Next Conference initially planned for 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The WSIS Forum is an annual global gathering of “ICT for development” stakeholders. Each year, this Forum offers participants the opportunity to establish professional contacts and enrich their knowledge by participating in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on the implementation of WSIS results. It represents the forum where stakeholders can form partnerships encouraging projects and initiatives that put the potential of ICT at the service of the Sustainable Development Goals, Horizon 2030.
At the end of the annual WSIS Forum sessions, prizes rewarding WSIS-related projects are awarded to 18 winners, WSIS stakeholders, who present examples of success in the implementation of the main directions of the WSIS and the SDGs, and this by taking advantage of the potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) to promote sustainable development.
Founded in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), whose headquarters is located in Bern (Switzerland), is the second oldest international organization after the ITU.
With its 193 member countries, the UPU is the main forum for cooperation between postal sector players, to ensure a truly universal network of products and services.
The organization sets the rules for international mail and courier services and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in postal services related to letters, parcels and postal financial services, and to improve the quality of service offered to customers. The UPU consists of (04) organs which are:
- The Congress which is held every (04) years;
- The Board of Directors (CA) which is held annually;
- The Postal Operations Council (POC) which is held annually;
- The International Bureau (IB).
As well as (02) cooperatives: the Telematics Cooperative and the EMS Cooperative. Algeria has been a member of the UPU since 1964. She was elected several times member of (02) Councils. Member of the Board of Directors, for the period (2021-2025), Algeria was re-elected on the occasion of the 27th UPU Universal Postal Conference held in August 2021 in Abidjan to sit in the same body for the period.
Algeria’s activities within the UPU
1. The Universal Postal Congress
The supreme authority of the UPU, which meets every four years in the presence of the plenipotentiaries of the member countries, to review the General rules governing the postal activity in order to adapt to developments in the sector. Algeria, since its accession to the UPU, regularly participates in Congress sessions. The Last Congress) the 27th Session held in Abidjan, (Côte d’Ivoire), in August 2021
2. The Board of Directors (CA)
It is composed of (41) member countries elected by the Congress, they meet annually at the headquarters of the UPU to supervise the activities of the Union and settle administrative and legal issues. Algeria was re-elected to the Board of Directors at the 27th Abidjan Congress, for the period (2022-2025).
3. The Postal Operations Council (POC)
It comprises (48) member countries elected by the Congress, they meet annually at the headquarters of the Union to discuss all technical postal matters. It should be noted that during its 51 years of admission to the UPU, our country was elected (05) times member of the (02) Councils of the Union (1979, 1984, 2004, 2008, and 2016) and three (03) times member of the CEP 1989, 2012 and 2021.
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) is an intergovernmental organization, whose mission is to ensure that INTELSAT fulfills its public telecommunications service obligations. This structure has operated in that way since July 18, 2021, corresponding to the date of the restructuring. Previously, the two entities were one, the Intelsat organization, which combined the functions of both providing commercial satellite services and monitoring compliance with obligations, since 1971.
Based in Washington DC (United State of America) with 149 member states including Algeria since 1971. ITSO comprises, according to its constitutive treaty, three (03) governing bodies, as follows: the Assembly of Parties, the Executive Body and the Consultative Commission. Algeria was designated by the 40th Assembly of the Parties to ensure coordination of the African Group until the holding of the 41st Assembly of the Parties.
International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) is the intergovernmental organization that monitors public safety telecommunications services provided via the INMARSAT satellites.
It was founded in 1998, according to the amendments to the provisions of the Convention on the Establishment of Inmarsat, which entered into force on July 16 1979. It is headquartered in London. IMSO works closely with the ITU, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to coordinate the establishment and operation of the system of identification and tracking of ships distance (LRIT) all over the world.
The organizational structure includes: the Assembly of Parties composed of 110 Member States (including Algeria since 1979); the Consultative Committee and the Secretariat.
(CUA) The Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and Information and Communication Technologies (STC-CCICT) of the African Union brings together the Ministers responsible for Communication and Information and Communication Technologies (STC – CCICT) and Postal Services. It is composed of two segments, the ministerial segment and the expert segment. Algeria regularly participates in the Committee’s activities.
The last session was held by videoconference in Addis Ababa, in October 2021.
The next one is scheduled for the end of 2023.
The main missions of the committee are:
- The adoption of strategies and action plans for the implementation of projects and programs; at the continental and regional levels in the ICT and communication sectors;
- The supervision and development of common African cyber strategies;
- Resource mobilization and capacity building for the implementation of the African Regional Action Plan for the Knowledge Economy;
- The promotion of public investments in ICT infrastructure;
- The creation of frameworks for the harmonization of ICT policies and regulations in Africa, etc.
The idea of creating the Arab Communications Satellite Organization (commonly known as Arabsat) was suggested in 1976 in Tunis, during the Arab Council of Ministers. The file was transferred to the Arab Ministers of Telecommunications for review.
The Arab Communications Satellite Organization was created by the Arab League under a convention signed in Cairo on April 14, 1976 with the accession of all its member states except the Comoros.
Since its establishment, Arabsat has been able to withstand increased competition with major companies in the field of satellite operations at regional and global level.
Arabsat is the largest satellite operator in the Middle East and Africa given the number of satellites it owns, its fleet has (06) satellites.
Arabsat provides its services in 100 countries in Asia, Africa and even Europe, especially after the appropriation of the “Hellas Sat” group of Cyprus in 2013.
The company’s organs
The organization consists of three (03) members, which are:
- The General Assemblyis held annually;
- The Board of Directors (CA) is heldall (03) months;
- The Director General (executive body)
Algeria, as a founding member of this Organization, shareholding in the company and collaborates with other member countries to achieve its development objectives.
The organization consists of three (03) members, which are: the General Assembly, the Board of Directors and the Director General (executive body).
1- The General Assembly consists of Ministers responsible for telecommunications in the member countries, whose presidency is held alternately in alphabetical order. Each member represents a single vote.
The General Assembly is held during the first half of each year at the headquarters of the organization, or at one of the member countries, at their invitation (in this case, the host country holds the presidency)
2- The Board of Directors: It meets every (03) month at the headquarters of the organization, it is composed of nine (09) members as follows:
- Five (05) permanent members whose contribution rate is significant, these are (Saudi Arabia, Kuweit, Libya, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates);
- Two (02) members whose usage rate is higher;
- Two (02) members among the most faithful in paying their financial commitments.
3- The Director-General (executing body).
Since 1979, Algeria has been elected 8 times as a member of the Council, the last one was in 2019, where it chaired the 2019 session, and expressed its willingness to develop its national space activity in the field of telecommunications, and collaborate with Arabsat to benefit from its long experience in this vital area.
The Pan- African Telecommunications Union (PATU) was founded in 1977 as a specialized institution of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union, in the field of telecommunications. Its headquarters is in Nairobi (Kenya).
In 1999, the organization took its current name “African Telecommunications Union (ATU)” and thus transformed into an institution of partnership between actors in the public and private sector, working to develop the infrastructure and services of communication and information technologies in the African continent.
The Union counts today has 44 Member States, including Algeria since its creation, and 24 Associate Members. Its aims to ensure the strengthening of infrastructure and the modernization of telecommunications services and to coordinate the African positions in international forums dealing with radiocommunications, standardization and development of ICTs.
The Union’s bodies are:
- The Plenipotentiary Conference which is held every (04) years;
- The Board of Directors held annually; Algeria is a member for the period 2023-2026;
- The Technical and development Conference;
- The General Secretariat.
Algeria is a member of the Board of Directors for the period 2023-2026, elected alongside 25 other members during the 6th Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the Organization, held in July 2022 in Algiers.
Algeria chairs the Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL) until the 7th CPL in 2026.
The Pan -African Postal Union (PAPU), a specialized institution of the African Union, was established in 1980 in Arusha, Tanzania. The purpose of its creation is the coordination of postal service development activities in Africa. It groups 44 Member States including Algeria (founding member of the Union).
The Union’s permanent bodies which are:
- The Plenipotentiary Conference which is held every (04) years;
- The Board of Directors held annually;
- The General Secretariat;
- As well as non-permanent members which are the Administrative and Technical Committees.
Algeria, as a member of the Administrative Council, participated in the 41st session of the Administrative Council, held at the Headquarters of the Union from August 24 to 30, 2023, elected during the 10th Plenipotentiary Conference held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in June 2021, for the period 2022-2025, and 1st Vice President of the Bureau of the Plenipotentiary Conference for the same period.
Regional African Satellite Communication Organization (RASCOM) is an intergovernmental organization, commercially managed organization whose capital is open to the private sector, specialized in the field of satellite communications. It was founded in 1992 and currently has 45 African member countries (including Algeria).
The purpose of its creation is to unite the efforts of African governments and operators to provide the continent with a telecommunications infrastructure based on satellite communications technology capable not only of providing a global response to all telecommunications needs identified in Africa, but also to provide telecommunications services at very low cost, thus making universal service a reality in Africa.
To achieve its mission, RASCOM has established a strategic partnership with the commercial company Rascom Star-QAF, that is, as part of an implementation agreement, in charge of the implementation of specialized system layout telecommunications satellite RASCOM for the African continent.
RASCOM has three (03) basic organs:
- The Assembly of Parties, which is held all (02) years;
- The Board of Directors (CA), which is held all (03) months;
- The Director General (executive body).
Algeria is a member of the Council of Ministers of Communications and Information of the League of Arab States, as well as of the Permanent Commission on Information Technology and the Permanent Commission on the Post.
Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization) (AICTO) is a governmental organization operating under the aegis of the League of Arab States, whose participation is open to the private sector. It was created in 2001 and based in Tunis (Tunisia), but the creation of agreement came into force on September 17, 2005.
AICTO aims to promote the use of telecommunications/ICT in the Arab region; and provide the necessary mechanisms to encourage cooperation between its member countries. The AICTO is consists of three (03) bodies which are:
- The General Assembly which is held every (02) years;
- The Board of Directors (CA) which is held annually, Algeria is regularly elected to this body;
- The General Secretariat.
18 Arab countries including Algeria are members of this Organization
In addition to specialized organizations, the sector relies on other cooperation frameworks at the international and regional level, namely,
1- The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):
UNCTAD is an intergovernmental organization created by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1964. Its headquarters is in Geneva, it has two offices in New York and Addis Ababa.
The sector regularly participates in UNCTAD meetings as well as its working group meetings.
2- World Trade Organization (WTO)
Our ministerial department participates in the work of government groups responsible for monitoring Algeria’s accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Algeria is an observer member of the WTO.
3- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): ZLECAf
The sector is a member of the Management Unit of the African Continental Free Trade Area Negotiations Forum, under the leadership of the Ministry of Trade and Export Promotion, and also participates in the work of the working groups in charge of trade services.
4. The European Union
Our sector cooperates with the European Union in a bilateral framework as well as in a regional framework through different mechanisms resulting in particular from the Association Agreement between Algeria and the European Union, as well as other multilateral instruments of the European Union.