Algeria : Serious structural problems impede competition, says Nedjma

"Competition is at present impeded due to serious structural problems and the absence of appropriate regulatory measures," said Nedjma’s General Manager Joseph Ged, adding that "rebalancing, is not to take from one group to give another."
 
For Ged, rebalancing "is to set up a competitive environment allowing all telecommunication companies to create value and protect the freedom of consumers in choosing their operator today and tomorrow, while keeping the same phone number."
 
"The substantial gap between the low level of investment and the massive growth of subscribers of dominant operator OTA (Orascom Telecom Algeria, Djezzy) shows that markert shares’ evolution is no longer linked to the achieved investments, neither to the commercial performance but only to the dominant operator’s ability to strengthen its power through abusive practices," Ged said.
 
According to Nedjma operator, the Regulatory Authority of Post and Telecommunications (ARPT) noticed the situation of dominance mainly on the basis of the turnover in its decision of 7 February 2007.
 
ARPT President Zohra Derdouri told APS on Wednesday that the evolution of the market shares in mobile telephony in Algeria is dependent on the investment and improvement of service quality.