Evaluation of ICT Deployment in Mountainous Regions: Assessing Telephone Service Efficiency in The Aurès Mountains, Algeria

ASM Sc. J., 21(1), 2026

Published on January 30, 2026

https://doi.org/10.32802/asmscj.2026.0048

Author: Hamzaoui Mohammed, Haddad Louiza, Zeraieb Salah, Sallaye Miloud

Abstract

Information and communication technology clearly affects regional development in several aspects, most notably facilitating access to services. This has led to its widespread adoption, which faces significant geographical and social obstacles that limit it s efficiency. This study aims to assess the state of information and communication technology in the Aurès Mountains of Algeria, with a particular focus on the structure of telephone services in order to illustrate the challenges that hinder regional development. The current situation of telephone communication infrastructure in the area was analysed using geographic information systems, in addition to the construction of a weighted spatial regression model to demonstrate the relationship between the efficiency of telephone services and network coverage variables. The findings revealed that the existi ng infrastructure is constrained by the challenges of terrain and by social factors related to unequal population density and distribution. Based on these aspects, solutions were proposed to improve the effectiveness of telephone services, with an emphasis on addressing the identified gaps to enhance regional development through strategic actions by decision-makers, thereby improving access to services and contri buting to bridging the digital divide in the future.

Keywords: Algeria, Aurès Mountains, coverage towers, Geographically Weighted Regression, telephone services, Viewshed analysis, Weighted Overlay