The postal and telecommunication sector, is regulated at the international level by organizations that gather all the world’s countries, in order to define jointly strategies and programs that have significant implications for the future of both the global economy, and the multilateral technical cooperation.
Like other nations, Algeria adherated to this global system, and actively participates in dialogues, initiatives, and events of international, regional, and sub-regional organizations , linked to the developement of the post and telecommunications, through the Minister of Post and Telecommunications in relation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, notably:
(ITU) the main specialized agency of the United Nations for information and communication technologies. Created in 1869 and based in Geneva (Switzerland), it now has 193 Member States, besides the ICT sector regulators, the public and private sector companies, and university and academic institutions.
The Union’s main mission is to promote the growth and the sustainable development of telecommunication’s networks and information networks and to facilitate the universal access, so that everyone can participate ,and gets benefit from the information society and the knowledge economy. One of the main priorities is to reduce the “digital divide” by promoting capacities strengthening and increasing confidence in cyberspace use through an improved online security.
The ITU is organized into (03) wide fields of activity or “Sectors” that work, among others, through conferences and meetings:
- Radio communications sector (ITU-R)
- Telecommunications Standardization (ITU-T)
- Telecommunications development sector (ITU-D)
The Bodies of the Union shall be:
- The Plenipotentiary Conference (PP) is held every (04) years
- The council meets annually
- The General Secretariat
Each Sector organises strategic conferences every (04) years and annual Commission’s meetings for the implementation of the various decisions and resolutions adopted.
Algeria joined the ITU in 1965, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications is the national focal point.
The Algérie Telecom Group, the Regulatory Authority for Post and Electronic Communications (ARPCE), the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CDTA), the National Higher School of Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies (ENSTTIC) are members of all sectors of the Organization; ICOSNET is a member of the telecommunications development sector.
Algeria has been a member of the the Union’s Council since 1965. In October 2022 and at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries (PP22), our country was re-elected for the 14th consecutive time since its accession, as part of the Africa region with 12 other African countries for the 2023-2026 period.
- PLENIPOTENTIARY CONFERENCE (PP)
The supreme body of the Union which meets every (4) years to determine the general principles of the Union and decide its future role.
The Plenipotentiary Conference of International Union of Telecommunications fpor the year 2026, will be held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, from November, 9th to 27th 2026. Algeria ensures its regular participation in this major event through official delegations representing the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
This participation demonstrates the willingness of Algeria to contribute to the establishement of international policies in the field of telecommunications and to ensure the defence of its interests in this strategic sector.
- THE COUNCIL
It meets once (1) a year at the headquarters of the Union to discuss telecommunications policy issues and ensure the proper functioning of the Union. Its members are elected by the Conference and divided into (5) regions. For the 2023-2026 period, the Council has 48 members including Algeria. Algeria was re-elected at the last Plenipotentiary Conference (PP22) for the Africa Region, with 138 votes, for the 2023-2026 period.
As a reminder, Algeria has been regularly elected to the ITU Council since 1965 for its constructive and effective contribution to the Union’s works.
Algeria regularly participates in the the ITU Council’s works through official delegations led by the Minister of Post and Telecommunications.”
The three ITU’s Sectors:
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR (ITU-R)
It is responsible for allocating spectrum and recording frequency assignments and orbital positions in order to avoid harmful interference between radio stations in countries. It is composed of Study Commissions that meet periodically and submit their works for approval to the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC), a major event of the sector held every 3 or 4 years.
The next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be held in 2027.
Preparatory works are already underway at the national, regional and international levels with the active participation of Algeria.
STANDARDIZATION SECTOR (ITU-T)
It gathers experts in the field to discuss technical specifications of the new and emerging network communication systems. It is combined of several Study Commissions which meet regularly.
The World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WNTA) is held every 4 years to define the activities and priorities of the Sector for the upcoming study period.
The World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA-28) will be held in 2028.
Algeria regularly participates in it through an official delegation, reflecting its ongoing commitment to the standardization work within the International Telecommunications Union.”
DEVELOPMENT SECTOR (ITU-D)
It helps to provide equitable and sustainable access to ICT, in order to promote and broaden the socio-economic development. Two (2) study commissions are active in this sector. The ITU’s Telecommunications Development Office is broken up into six (6) regional offices around the world. Algeria is geographically covered by the Arab regional office in Cairo (Egypt). The major event in this sector is the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) which takes place every 4 years to establish work programmes and guidelines related to the development of telecommunications/ ICT.
The next World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 17th to 28th, 2025.
In preparation for this event, several regional preparatory meetings were held. The first, devoted to the Arab region, was held on 4th and 5th,2025.In Amman, Jordan, while the second one, devoted to the African region, took place on April 8th to 9th 2025. in Nairobi, Kenya.
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The WSIS Forum is an annual global gathering of ICT’s actors in the development’s service. Each year, the Forum provides participants with an opportunity to establish professional networks and enrich their knowledge by engaging in multistakeholder debates and consultations on the implementation of WSIS outcomes. It serves as a platform where stakeholders can form encouraging partnerships of projects and initiatives that harness the potential of ICT for the Sustainable Development Goals, Horizon 2030.
At the end of the annual sessions of the WSIS Forum, awards related to WSIS are assigned to 18 WSIS stakeholders winners who represent successful examples in implementing the big orientations of the WSIS and SDGs. By harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote sustainable development.
Created in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), with its headquarters in Bern (Switzerland) is the second oldest international organization after the ITU. With its 194 member countries, the UPU constitute the main forum of cooperation between postal sector actors, ensuring a truly universal network of state-of-the-art products and services. The organization sets rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in letter mail, parcels and financial services volumes and improve the quality of service provided to customers. The UPU is composed of (04) bodies which are:
- Congress that is held every (04) year
- Board of Directors (CA) which meets annually
- Postal Operations Council (POC) held annually
- International Office (IO).
As well as (02) cooperatives: the Telematics Cooperative and the EMS Cooperative. Algeria has been a member of the UPU since 1964. It has been elected several times as a member of (02) Councils. Member of the Administration Council (CA), for the 2021-2025 period,
Algeria was re-elected at the 27th UPU Congress held in August 2021, in Abidjan to take place on the same body for the period.
- THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONGRESS
The UPU’s supreme authority, which meets every 4 years in the presence of the plenipotentiaries of the member countries to review the acts governing international postal activity in order to adapt to developments in the sector. Since its accession to the UPU, Algeria has regularly participated in the sessions of the Congress.
The 28th Universal Postal Congress will be held from September, 6th to 20th, 2025, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Faithful to its commitment to the work of the Universal Postal Union, Algeria, will participate regularly and actively in it, thus contributing to the formulation of policies and the adoption of resolutions that will affect the future of postal services,at both the regional and international levels.
- THE Council of Administration (CA)
It is composed of (41) member countries elected by the Congress, they meet annually at the UPU headquarters to oversee the Union’s activities and settle administrative and legal matters. Algeria was re-elected to the Council at the 27th Abidjan Congress, for the (2022-2025) period.
- THE POSTAL OPERATIONS Council(CEP)
It is composed of (48) member countries elected by the Congress, they meet annually at the Union’s headquarters to discuss all technical issues related to the postal field. It should be noted that during its 51 years of admission to the UPU, our country was elected Member of the two UPU Councils at six (06) occasions, in the years: 1979, 1984, 2004, 2008, 2016 and 2021.
Member of the Postal Operations Council at three (03) occasions, in the years: 1989, 2012 and 2021.
The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) is an intergovernmental organisation whose mission is to ensure that the INTELSAT company fulfils its public service telecommunications obligations. This structure has been in operation since July, 18th, 2001, the date of the restructuring. Previously, the two entities were one, the Intelsat organization, which combined commercial satellite service provision and compliance monitoring functions since 1971. Based in Washington D.C. (United States of America), the ITSO currently has 149 member countries including Algeria since 1971. ITSO is structured, according to its constitutive treaty, of (03) entities: the Assembly of Parties; the Executive Body; and the Advisory Commission.
The International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) is the intergovernmental organization that oversees public security telecommunications services provided through INMARSAT’s satellites.
It was founded in 1998 on the provisions of the amendments to the Convention establishing Inmarsat, which entered into force on July,16th, 1979. Its headquarters is located in London. The IMSO works closely with the ITU, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to coordinate the creation and operation of the Long-range Identification and Tracking System (LRIT) worldwide. The structure of the Organization is structured as follows: the Assembly of Parties composed of the 110 member states (including Algeria since 1979); the Advisory Committee and the Secretariat.
(AUC) the Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and Information and Communication Technologies (STC-CICT) of the African Union brings together the Ministers responsible for Communication and Information and Communication Technology (CTIC) and Postal Services. It consists of two segments, the ministerial segment and the experts’ segment. Algeria regularly participates in the work of the Committee.
The main tasks of the committee are:
- The adoption of strategies and action plans for the implementation of projects and programmes; at both 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 investment in ICT infrastructure,
- Creating frameworks for the harmonization of ICT policies and regulations in Africa, etc.
The idea of creating the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (commonly known as Arabsat) was suggested at the 1976’s Arab Council of Ministers in Tunis. The file has been transferred to the Arab Ministers of Telecommunications for review.
The Arab Satellite Communications Organization was established by the Arab League under a convention signed in Cairo on 14/04/1976 with the accession of all its member states except the Comoros.
Since its inception, Arabsat has been able to withstand increased competition with major companies in the field of satellite operations at both, the regional and global levels.
Arabsat is the largest operator of satellites in the Middle East and Africa by virtue of the number of satellites it owns, with a fleet of (06) satellites.
Arabsat provides its services across 100 countries in Asia, Africa and even Europe, notably after the takeover of the Cyprus group “Hellas Sat” in 2013.
The company’s bodies:
The organization is composed of three (03) bodies which are:
- The General Assembly, which meets annually;
- The Board of Directors which meets every (03) month; and
- The Director General (executive body).
Algeria, as a founding member of this organization, participates in the capital of the company and collaborates with other member countries to achieve its development goals.
The organization is composed of three (03) bodies which are: the General Assembly, the Board of Directors and the executive body.
1- THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Consists of the ministers responsible for telecommunications in the member countries, whose chairmanship is held in alphabetical order. Each member represents a single vote.
The General Assembly shall be held during the first six months of each year at the headquarters of the organization, or at the invitation of one of the member countries (in which case the host country shall assume the chairmanship)
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,
- Two (02) members with the highest usage rate, and
- Two (02) members among the most faithful to the payment of their financial commitments.
3- THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL (EXECUTIVE BODY).
Since 1979, Algeria has been elected 8 times as a member of the Council, the last time was in 2019, when 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 field.
The Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PAPU) was founded in 1977 as a specialized institution of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union, in the field of telecommunications. Its headquarters is located in Nairobi (Kenya). In 1999, the organization took its current name “African Telecommunications Union (UAT)” and has thus transformed itself into an institution of partnership between public and private sector actors working to develop information and communication technology infrastructures and services in the African continent. The Union now has 44 Member States, including Algeria since its creation, and 24 Associate Members. It aims to ensure the strengthening of infrastructure and the modernization of telecommunications services; and to coordinate African positions in international forums dealing with radio communications, standardization and ICT development. The bodies of the Union are:
- The Plenipotentiary Conference held every (04) years
- The Council of Administration which meets annually, Algeria is a member for the 2023-2026 period.
- Technical and development conference
- The General Secretariat.
Algeria is a member of the Board of Directors for the 2023-2026 period, elected alongside 25 other members at the 6th Plenipotentiaries’ Conference of the Organization, held in July 2022 in Algiers.
Algeria chairs the Plenipotentiaries’ Conference (CPL), until the 7th CPL in 2026.
Algeria, like other African countries, celebrates the African Day of Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies on December, 7th each year. This date symbolically dates back to the anniversary of the founding of the African Telecommunications Union (UAT), on December, 7th 1977.
The Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU), a specialized agency of the African Union, was established in 1980 in Arusha, Tanzania. The aim of its creation is to coordinate postal services development activities in Africa. It includes 44 member states) including Algeria, the founding country of the Union).
The Union has permanent bodies which are:
- The Plenipotentiary Conference held every (04) years
- The Council of Administration, which meets annually
- The General Secretariat
- As well as the non-permanent bodies that are the administrative and technical committees.
As a member of the Board of Directors, Algeria participated in the 41st session of the Council of Administration , held at the headquarters of the Union from August 24th to 30th, 2023, elected at the 10th Plenipotentiaries’ Conference held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in June 2021, for the 2022-2025 period, and 1st Vice-President of the Bureau of the Plenipotentiaries Conference for the same period.
Algeria was unanimously elected Chair of the Councilof the Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU) for the 2024-2025 period, during the work of the 42nd ordinary session of the Council held in Arusha (Tanzania), from June 3rd to 14th, 2024.
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The Regional African Satellite Communication Organization (RASCOM) is an intergovernmental, commercially-managed and privately-owned satellite communications organization. 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 is not only to provide the continent with a telecommunications infrastructure based on satellite communication technology capable not only of providing a global response to all needs telecommunications identified in Africa, but also to provide telecommunications services at very low cost, thus making universal service a reality in Africa. To carry out its mission, RASCOM has established a strategic partnership with its trading company Rascom Star-QAF, which is, under an implementation agreement, Responsible for the implementation of RASCOM’s specialized satellite telecommunications system for the African continent.
RASCOM has three (03) basic organs:
- The Assembly of Parties which meets every (02) years
- The Board of Directors which meets every (03) month
- The Director-General (executive body).
Algeria is a member of the Council of Ministers for Communications and Information of the League of Arab States, as well as the ICT Standing Committee on Information Technologies and the Postal Standing Committee.
Known by its English acronym ( the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization « AICTO ») is an intergovernmental organisation operating under the aegis of the League of Arab States, with participation open to the private sector. It was created in 2001 and based in Tunis (Tunisia), but the founding agreement came into force on 17/09/2005. AICTO aims to promote the use of telecommunications/ICTs in the Arab region; and provide mechanisms to encourage cooperation among its member countries. The AICTO consists of three (03) bodies which are:
- The General Assembly, which is held every (02) years,
- The Executive Council which meets annually, Algeria is elected regularly 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 international and regional cooperation frameworks, such as:
1- 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 and working groups.
2 – WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)
Our ministerial department participates in the work of government groups responsible for monitoring the process of accession of Algeria to the World Trade Organization (WTO), under the guidance of the Ministry in charge of Foreign Trade.
Algeria is an WTO observer member.
3- AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREAZONE (AfCFTA)
The sector is a member of the Management Unit of the African Continental Free Trade Area Negotiations Forum, under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Export Promotion. He also participates in the work of the working groups on trade in services and digital commerce.
4- EUROPEAN UNION
Our sector cooperates with the European Union in a bilateral framework as well as in a regional framework through various mechanisms resulting notably from the Association Agreement between Algeria and the European Union, and other multilateral instruments of the European Union.