Morocco Boosts Connectivity with 5G and Satellite
Telecom firms invest heavily in infrastructure and digital inclusion.
To bridge the digital divide, Morocco is expanding internet access using combined strategies. Telecom operators are intensifying 5G experiments and modernizing networks, while satellite technology offers solutions for remote areas.
Telecoms Invest in Infrastructure
Over the past couple years, Moroccan telecom operators have significantly increased their investments in infrastructure. **Morocco Telecom**, the country’s leading operator, has accelerated its 5G initiatives and upgraded its network. They’ve also partnered with **Inwi** in a strategic move to combine infrastructure, resulting in joint ventures like Fiberco, for optical fiber deployment, and Towerco, for constructing and managing 5G towers.
The initial phase includes a 4.4 billion dirham investment over three years. Plans involve erecting 2,000 towers and connecting one million homes to fiber within two years. **Orange Morocco** has chosen a tech partnership with **Ericsson**. This includes integrating technologies such as the Dual Mode 5G Core and the Native Infrastructure solution from **Ericsson**, which will boost network capacity and enhance customer experience.
**Inwi** is also advancing its 5G trials, launched in late 2023 in cities such as Casablanca, Rabat, and Tangier. Aside from its collaboration with **Morocco Telecom**, **Inwi** has partnered with **Huawei** to virtualize its core network. It is also collaborating with incubators to develop innovative applications.
Starlink as a Complementary Solution
Satellite technology offers a viable alternative for regions beyond the reach of land networks. **SpaceX’s** Starlink project seeks to connect thousands of homes using satellite dishes and a monthly fee. The Moroccan government is considering granting an official license, along with subsidies of up to 2,500 dirhams per household.
About 4,000 rural homes should benefit during this pilot phase. Starlink promises speeds up to 500 Mbps and low latency. However, the initial costs remain high. Telecommunications consultant **Amine Zahidy** notes that “the satellite can resolve the question of coverage in white areas, but without economic and regulatory support, he risks digging inequality.”
Digital Inclusion
Beyond infrastructure, digital inclusion hinges on accessibility and training. Although dropping, the cost of fiber or 5G subscriptions is still a barrier. Low digital literacy in rural areas also limits the ability to leverage connectivity fully. NGOs and public programs are addressing this gap with free training, but needs outstrip resources. The Morocco Digital 2030 plan seeks to remedy this with tax incentives, social pricing, and public-private partnerships.
**Zahidy** believes that “Morocco has unique assets – pooling of infrastructure, massive fiber deployment, 5G launch and satellite solutions – which can tip the country towards universal connectivity. But for this revolution to benefit everyone, we must go beyond technology: invest in digital training and build solid solidarity networks. It is this triptych that will guarantee a sustainable digital inclusion.”
This strategy aims to expand internet coverage (especially in rural areas), multiply online public services, train youth in digital skills, and strengthen cybersecurity. According to the World Bank, about 74% of Moroccans used the internet in 2022, demonstrating significant potential for growth as infrastructure expands (World Bank Data 2022).
