Djezzy
| Company type | Subsidiary (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | July 11, 2001 |
| Headquarters | Algeria |
Area served | Algeria |
Key people | Boumediene Senouci (CEO since 2025) |
| Products | Prepaid and postpaid plans, data packages, value-added services, SUT |
| Owner | Algerian government (since 2022) |
| Parent | Formerly Global Telecom Holding (VEON) |
Djezzy (in ) ranks among Algeria's top three mobile network providers, commanding a 65% share of the market with a subscriber base exceeding 16.49 million as of December 2016. Its coverage extends to 90% of the population across all 48 wilayas. Since 2022, ownership of Djezzy has been fully transferred to the Algerian government; prior to that, it operated as a subsidiary under the Egyptian firm Global Telecom Holding (a division of VEON). The company obtained Algeria's second GSM license on 11 July 2001 through a $737 million bid and commenced service on February 15, 2002.
In January 2015, the National Investment Fund (FNI) acquired a majority 51% stake in Djezzy, while Global Telecom Holding maintained operational control. By August 2022, VEON divested its remaining 45.57% share to FNI for $682 million, resulting in full state ownership.
Djezzy’s network infrastructure reaches 95% of the national population, providing 3G connectivity in every wilaya and introducing 4G services in October 2016 across 20 wilayas, with an aim to cover more than half the population by 2021.
The company is actively pursuing a digital transformation strategy to establish itself as Algeria’s foremost digital operator, empowering users to engage seamlessly with digital technologies. Since 2025, Boumediene Senouci has held the position of CEO.
The service offerings from Djezzy encompass prepaid and postpaid plans, data packages, value-added services, and SUT. Its primary competitors include the state-owned Mobilis and the private entity Ooredoo Algeria.
Legal dispute with Orascom
Following privatization, Naguib Sawiris's Orascom Telecom acquired a controlling interest, quickly expanding Djezzy into Orascom’s most lucrative unit and a key player in Algeria’s mobile market.
Tensions escalated in 2008 when Algerian authorities aimed to boost their ownership stake in Djezzy and impose stricter regulatory oversight on telecommunications—a move Sawiris argued violated Orascom’s investment agreements.
In 2010, Russian corporation VimpelCom purchased Orascom for $6.4 billion. Subsequently, Sawiris initiated arbitration at the ICSID in 2012 seeking $4 billion in damages, alleging that government intervention coerced a discounted sale through the VimpelCom merger. The conflict was largely resolved in 2014 when VimpelCom sold a majority (51%) interest in Djezzy to Algeria’s National Investment Fund (FNI) for $2.64 billion. The ICSID tribunal ruled in favor of Algeria in 2017, dismissing Sawiris's claims.
Algeria contended that Orascom failed to comply with regulatory standards and underreported taxes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign investments in strategic sectors. Orascom countered by asserting that Algerian measures constituted unlawful expropriation under international law, citing breaches of the Egypt-Algeria bilateral investment treaty intended to safeguard investors from unfair treatment. The government maintained its actions were lawful enforcement of national legislation and dismissed Orascom’s allegations as unfounded.