Algeria is set to connect to a new submarine fibre optic cable to enhance national internet speeds and capacity, as part of its broader digital transformation agenda. The project was announced on December 15 by Sid Ali Zerrouki, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, during a radio interview.
According to the Algerian Press Service (APS), the foundation stone for the new cable is expected to be laid within days. While specific details regarding the cable’s name, capacity, cost, technical partners, or commissioning timeline have not yet been disclosed, the project signals Algeria’s intent to significantly strengthen its international connectivity.
Data from the Submarine Cable Map platform shows that two major submarine cable systems are scheduled to become operational in Algeria in 2026. These include Africa-1, with a nominal capacity of 200 to 300 Gbps, and the Medusa cable, which is currently under installation. Medusa’s first phase is expected to be completed in 2026 and will feature segments with up to 24 fibre pairs, each capable of delivering up to 20 terabits per second.
At present, Algeria is connected to five submarine cable systems: TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex, SeaMeWe-4, Oran-Valencia (ORVAL), Med Cable Network, and Alpal-2. Together, these provide a total international capacity of approximately 10.2 terabits per second, which the minister described as sufficient for current demand.
The planned expansion comes amid rapid growth in internet usage and data consumption. According to GSMA projections, average monthly data traffic in Africa is expected to rise from 4 GB in 2024 to 9 GB by 2030. In Algeria, internet subscriptions increased from around 18.6 million in 2015 to approximately 59.1 million by mid-2025. Data consumption surged from about 379.7 million GB in the second quarter of 2020 to roughly 3.3 billion GB in the second quarter of 2025. Bandwidth usage has also climbed sharply, reaching 5,390 Gbps out of the available 10.2 terabits.
The launch of commercial 5G services in Algeria has further increased the need for higher-capacity international links, reinforcing the importance of new submarine cable investments to support future digital growth.
