Djezzy will be Algerian company within three weeks

Algeria’s information and communication technologies minister Moussa Benhemadi said the government delayed the launching of the 3G or third generation mobile services because it was busy with the deal of buying mobile phone operator Djezzy which will be concluded after two or three weeks.

« We postponed the launching of the 3G and we have waited for more than a year to conclude the deal, » Benhemadi told journalists at the People’s National Assembly in Algiers on Thursday.

« As Djezzy will be an Algerian company at 51 percent and to not deprive this operator of entering the 3G competition market, we decided to postpone the launching, » he added.

He also said « administrative procedures » are underway and the process-related administrative and technical files were prepared.

The ministry was not able to launch the 3G in September 2011 because the State decided to enter the market as a partner according to the 51 / 49 rule.

The minister said Djezzy which has more than 16 million subscribers has a considerable profitability in mobile phone market.

The Algerian legislation does not allow unstable operators to enter the 3G market. This is the current situation of Djezzy has been operating in Algeria since 2002.

Benhemadi did not give details about the situation of Russian telecoms firm Vimpelcom, Djezzy’s owner concerning the buy-out.