SECTOR 2 parastatals (EPIC) supposedly controlled by a board of directors, radio and television broadcasting remain the exclusive domain of the government. There are therefore no private commercial radio or television stations under Algerian law. The public radio broadcasting corporation (EPRS) operates three national networks (in Arabic, Tamazight and French) that air 24 hours a day and an international network that airs 12 hours a day in Arabic (56%), French (25%) and Spanish (5%). The national radio network also has two theme channels: Radio Coran and Radio Culture. As part of the effort to decentralise activities of the national radio in 1991, 5 local radio stations were established. The government consequently established a network of 22 stations in 1994 to satisfy the high demand of the 48 wilayas (administrative provinces). There were 39 regional radio stations in Algeria in October 2008. The Secretary of State for Communications has announced the establishment of over 43 local stations before the end of 2009. The public television broadcasting corporation (EPTV) operates 5 stations – certain panel members prefer to say that programmes of the national corporation are aired through 5 channels: - The national channel (AT) established in 1970 bringing together regional programmes. - Canal Algérie, created in 1994 and dedicated to Algerians living in Europe. - A3 is dedicated to Algerians in the Middle East. - TV Coran airs religious programmes. - TV Tamazight airs programmes in the Tamazight language. It was launched at the same time as TV Coran. “There are satellite dishes however” said certain panel members with satisfaction. Algeria is reputed to be one of the countries with the most satellite dishes in the world, according to the panel. The international media operates normally in the country. But, cases of prohibition have often been recorded (Le Monde, Jeune Afrique, etc...). Regarding ICTs, Algeria has a significant number of cybercafés: 6,000! Certain neighbourhoods in Algiers have up to 2 or 3 internet cafés. However, the panel interprets this abundance as a sign of a low household connection rate. “It is like thermal baths, the more there are in the world, the fewer people have bathrooms at home”. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ALGERIA 2009 29