Egypt’s Orascom Telecom (OT) and Telecom Egypt will launch their joint venture fixed line operator in Algeria this week, according to Reuters. OT and state-run Telecom Egypt each hold 50% of the Consortium Algerien de Telecommunication (CAT) which paid USD65 million for Algeria’s second fixed line licence last year. CAT will provide a full range of services, including local, long-distance and international telephony, and internet access. OT already operates the largest mobile phone network in Algeria, Djezzy.