Morocco’s 5G countdown begins: Operators officially launch 5G
The Maroc Telecom Tower in Morocco
Morocco’s 5G network was formally launched by the three main network operators in Morocco: Orange Maroc, Maroc Telecom, and Inwi, on November 7th, according to Yabiladi with MAP.
The launch marks a significant leap in Morocco’s 2030 Digital Transformation vision, where it aims to become a self-standing digital hub in Africa. Inwi, which has over 18 million mobile internet users in Morocco, described its rollout as a “major milestone in Morocco’s digital development.”
Inwi’s 5G services, including prepaid and post-paid plans, offer ultra-fast speeds exceeding 2 Gbps, very low latency, and increased capacity, targeting both individual users and business clients. Inwi’s 5G is said to cover major cities in Morocco, and existing customers with 5G compatible smartphones can access 5G without changing their existing plans or SIM cards, available immediately at no extra cost.
The initial rollout has already included over 100 cities, and a nationwide expansion is planned for the upcoming months.
Orange Maroc has described Morocco’s 5G launch as the beginning of a “new era of connectivity.” The highlighted benefits of 5G that Orange Maroc claims to provide are: smoother video calling, immersive streaming/gaming experiences, faster response times for connected devices, and support for ultra-HD entertainment, professional videoconferencing, smart homes, telemedicine, and immersive learning.
For businesses, 5G connectivity means real-time collaboration and remote control of machinery/vehicles, process automation and accelerated digitalisation, which makes greater agility, competitiveness, and innovation possible. Many users reported seeing the 5G symbol on their smartphones within hours of launching.
Morocco’s vision to become a digital hub by 2030 is reportedly backed by a budget of 11 billion dirhams (3 million USD) over 2024-2026, focusing on training, fibre optic – which is an important component of 5G towers – and AI.
Morocco’s 5G network can facilitate better cross-border digital cooperation in the future, like the program initiated by the justice ministers of Morocco and Mauritania to digitalise the judicial systems. Earlier this month, Morocco also received Gabonese officials to strengthen bilateral cooperation in digital transformation.
However, as the Moroccan government promotes the 2030 digital transformation plan, analysts have been sceptical about the limited investment.
Yabiladi with MAP, APA News, Maghrebi.org
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