Algeria concludes 5G spectrum auction and allocates spectrum to the three operators

event 16.12.2025 person Admin

Algeria

Algeria has officially closed its national 5G spectrum licensing process, with the Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Communications Électroniques (ARPCE) awarding fifth-generation mobile licenses to the country’s three mobile network operators: ATM Mobilis, Wataniya Télécom Algérie (Ooredoo), and Optimum Télécom Algérie (Djezzy).

Licence Duration and Regulatory Framework

All three 5G licences are granted for an initial period of 15 years, starting from the official publication date in the Journal Officiel. The licences may be renewed in additional five-year periods, subject to regulatory approval and compliance with coverage and service obligations.

For the current licensing round, the effective validity period runs from 20 November 2025 until 20 November 2040.

Total Financial Impact of the 5G Auction

With three national operators each committing to the same fixed license amount, the initial financial value of Algeria’s 5G spectrum award exceeds:

62.1 billion Algerian dinars (DZD) in upfront license payments alone, excluding recurring annual spectrum and regulatory fees.

This positions Algeria’s 5G licensing process as one of the most financially significant telecom regulatory events in the country’s recent digital infrastructure history.

State-owned operator ATM Mobilis secured a dual-layer mid-band spectrum portfolio, combining immediate capacity with phased expansion rights.

Band	Duplex	Frequency Range	Bandwidth	Availability
3.5 GHz (n78)	TDD	3500 – 3600 MHz	100 MHz	Immediate
2.6 GHz (n41)	TDD	2570 – 2610 MHz	40 MHz	Immediate
2.6 GHz (n41)	TDD	2610 – 2640 MHz	30 MHz	Phased release (within 4 years)

Once the phased block becomes available, Mobilis will operate a total of 70 MHz in the 2.6 GHz TDD band, strengthening its 5G capacity layer alongside its 100 MHz allocation in the 3.5 GHz range.

Ooredoo Algeria secured a large contiguous mid-band block in the lower part of the 3.5 GHz range, complemented by a future allocation in the 2.6 GHz band.

Band	Duplex	Frequency Range	Bandwidth	Availability
3.5 GHz (n78)	TDD	3400 – 3500 MHz	100 MHz	Immediate
2.6 GHz (n41)	TDD	2500 – 2570 MHz	70 MHz	Phased release (within 3 years)

This structure positions Ooredoo with strong 5G capacity in the lower n78 band, while reserving significant additional spectrum in the 2.6 GHz range once refarming is completed.

Djezzy received the largest contiguous spectrum holding in the upper 3.5 GHz band, providing the operator with substantial high-capacity deployment potential from day one.

Band	Duplex	Frequency Range	Bandwidth	Availability
3.5 GHz (n78)	TDD	3630 – 3700 MHz	70 MHz	Immediate
3.5 GHz (n78)	TDD	3700 – 3800 MHz	100 MHz	Immediate

With a combined total of 170 MHz in the 3.5 GHz band, Djezzy becomes the largest mid-band spectrum holder in the Algerian 5G market.

Market Impact and Network Capacity Outlook

Algeria’s 5G auction outcome establishes a structured mid-band distribution model, balancing immediate deployment capability with phased capacity expansion. Mobilis and Ooredoo benefit from future 2.6 GHz releases, while Djezzy enters the market with a dominant contiguous 3.5 GHz portfolio.

This spectrum strategy enables:

High-capacity urban 5G deployment using 3.5 GHz TDD
Future densification through additional 2.6 GHz layers
Smooth migration from NSA to full 5G Standalone (SA) architectures
Long-term spectrum stability through 15-year licence validity

Conclusion

With the completion of its 5G spectrum auction, Algeria has formally opened the next phase of mobile network evolution. The clearly segmented frequency layout, combined with phased expansion rights and long-term licence validity, provides operators with regulatory certainty and technical flexibility to scale national 5G coverage and performance in the coming decade.

All the details are reflected in our database and can be found here: https://www.spectrum-tracker.com/Algeria