Harmony In Setif, Algeria

Ok, this article is not exactly clear in it’s translation. But, whatever the reason British Telecom suggests that Algerie Telecom should not privatise, I think they are wrong. For one, I have a gripe against Algerie Telecom. They don’t have a good system for customer service. They can never give a status to your situation, whether it be why your phone is disconected or when will it be turned back on, kind of stuff. When we first ordered our telephone line to our newly built apartment, it took them not less than 6 months to install it. I am thinking ‘how can this be possible?’. The telephone has been around for how many years now? And they can’t get it done in under a week or maybe two? There are umpteen reports on how the cell phone market in Algeria is skyrocketing, well, I wonder why?! If you can’t get a land line, you are forced to get a cell phone. A question I pose is ‘How are you supposed to set up a brick and mortar business when you can’t get a line?’ You can’t very well have the internet without a land line. In the US telephone companies are continually trying to compete with cell phones but it seems Algeria doesn’t care. Why? I just don’t get it. I think the only way Algerie Telecom will ever improve it’s service, aside from it’s technology, is if someone more capatilistically minded runs the place. They also need competition.  Ok, enough for now. Enjoy, your day!

El Khabar
Privatisation of Algérie Télécom is useless

Technorati Tags: algerie, telecom, british, phone, land line, cell phone, market

There are many pluses to living in Algeria. I get to focus on taking care of my family. We can afford to spend summers at the beach. It’s pretty laid back living compared to American Life. But one of the things the just tears me up inside is the lack of accountability among the mothers and fathers and grandparents when it comes to protecting children from the risk of injury or death in a car accident. Always, always, always, I see mothers holding a child on her lap in the front seat of an automobile. Or, just small children in the front seat. And I don’t think half the parents, here, bother to buy a proper car seat for thier infant children. They think it is ok to just hold them. And they call themselves ‘educated’. I get so, so angry. Oh, and you’ll see a whole family piled into a compact car. How unsafe is that?! If you are wondering, yes, it is against the law to put small kids in the front seat. And it is also the law for front passengers to wear seatbelts. But, all too often you will see the traffic cops having a little laugh and chit chat instead of observing such obscene behavior. Rrrgghh! Algeria is still considered a ‘developing’ country. But, Algeria is an oil country with little debt. They need to spend some money on Public Awareness Programs. Pronto! Anyway, until my next rant….