Telephone chips and satellite stations under strict control to foil terrorist attacks

The Algerian authorities took the decision to apply stringent control measures on highly sensitive equipment brought to Algeria or produced domestically, as it was decided that all activities in relation to this sector will be subject to the interior ministry’s control and prior authorization, including telephone chips.

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•   In this respect, the interior minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni will tomorrow submit the project that will fix the rules on the sensitive equipment to the members of the cabinet.
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• The ministry’s move was driven by purely security reasons as investigations proved that terrorist groups use some of the equipment to carry out their acts.
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• The endorsement of the bill will imply that all sensitive equipment will be under a direct supervision of the interior ministry which will be entrusted with granting permission to acquire or sell equipment in connection with communications.
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• These equipment will include components used in earth, air and marine and radio stations as well as satellite stations.
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• The bill will exclude chips’ owners who work for the national defence ministry.