2009 Morocco - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts

Publication Overview

This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Morocco’s telecommunications market. Subjects covered include:

·         Key statistics;

·         Market and industry overviews;

·         Regulatory environment and structural reform;

·         Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);

·         Infrastructure development;

·         Mobile voice and data markets, including 3G;

·         Average Revenue per User (ARPU) and churn trends;

·         Internet development;

·         Broadband, including 3G mobile

·         Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).

Researcher:- Peter Lange

Current publication date:- October 2009 (8^th Edition)

Next publication date:- October 2010

Executive Summary

Morocco is one of the most advanced telecommunications markets in Africa and often seen as a role model for future developments in other parts of the continent. It features a majority-privatised, highly profitable incumbent telco, Maroc Telecom (MT), three fixed and mobile network operators, as well as the highest penetration and some of the lowest prices on the continent for broadband Internet access.

The duopoly between MT and Meditel in the mobile market came to an end in June 2008 when the third entrant, Wana, started offering mobile services on its CDMA2000 network. Its licence was extended to include GSM spectrum in early 2009 which is expected to provide a further boost to the market.

The fixed-line market is experiencing a renaissance, following the launch of the second and third network operators, Meditel and Wana, and fuelled by the growing demand for broadband services. Most of the new connections are wireless, with both new service providers rolling out WiMAX networks in parallel to using their mobile platforms for the provision of fixed services.

The Internet market is dominated by MT’s ADSL broadband service which held over 90% of the market until recently. However, within two years of their introduction, 3G mobile broadband services had taken more than 40% of the broadband market by early 2009. This development is expected to continue, since the mobile networks reach a far greater percentage of the population than MT’s copper fixed-line network.

With all three major players being fixed as well as mobile network operators, the boundaries between fixed and mobile are beginning to disappear as technologies and services converge. Innovative new services have been introduced such as the first commercial IPTV service on the continent. To accommodate the increasing amount of voice and Internet traffic, fibre optic national backbone networks and international connectivity are being expanded.

Key highlights:

·         Forecasts for fixed-line, mobile, Internet and broadband markets to 2010 and 2015;

·         Mobile penetration has broken the 75% barrier;

·         Decreasing ARPU and increasing churn;

·         More fixed-wireless than fixed-line connections;

·         3G mobile broadband set to overtake ADSL in 2009;

·         Trials of EV-DO Rev. B and Broadband over Powerline technologies;

·         New international fibre links;

·         Profiles of major players in all market sectors;

·         2008 financial results;

·         Zain invests in Wana;

·         Majority stake in Meditel up for sale.

Morocco – distribution of ADSL access by speed – March 2009

(Source: BuddeComm based on ANRT and company data)

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

Table of Contents

• 1. Key Statistics
• 2. Telecommunications Market
  • 2.1 Overview of Morocco’s telecom market
• 3. Regulatory Environment
  • 3.1 Telecommunications Law 1997
    • 3.1.1 Telecom law amendments 2002
  • 3.2 Law 55-01 of 2004
  • 3.3 Regulatory authority
    • 3.3.1 Agence Nationale de Reglementation des Telecommunications (ANRT)
  • 3.4 Universal service
    • 3.4.1 Universal Service Fund (USF)
  • 3.5 Telecom sector liberalisation in Morocco
  • 3.6 Interconnection
  • 3.7 Number portability
  • 3.8 Unbundled Local Loop (ULL)
• 4. Fixed Network Operators in Morocco
  • 4.1 Overview of operators
    • 4.1.1 Fixed-line statistics
  • 4.2 Maroc Telecom
    • 4.2.1 Privatisation
    • 4.2.2 International expansion
    • 4.2.3 National backbone network
    • 4.2.4 Public call offices (teleboutiques)
  • 4.3 Medi Telecom (Meditel)
  • 4.4 Wana (formerly Maroc Connect)
• 5. Telecommunications Infrastructure
  • 5.1 International infrastructure
    • 5.1.1 Fibre optic submarine cable networks
• 6. Internet Market
  • 6.1 Overview
    • 6.1.1 Internet statistics
  • 6.2 International Internet bandwidth
  • 6.3 National fibre backbone
  • 6.4 The MARWAN network
  • 6.5 Morocco’s ISP market
    • 6.5.1 Maroc Telecom (Menara)
    • 6.5.2 MTDS
• 7. Broadband Market
  • 7.1 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
  • 7.2 3G mobile broadband
    • 7.2.1 Wana (formerly Maroc Connect)
    • 7.2.2 Meditel
    • 7.2.3 Maroc Telecom
  • 7.3 Broadband via satellite
  • 7.4 Broadband over Powerlines (BPL)
• 8. Convergence
  • 8.1 VoIP telephony
  • 8.2 E-commerce
  • 8.3 E-learning
  • 8.4 IPTV
• 9. Mobile Communications
  • 9.1 Overview and analysis of Morocco’s mobile market – 2009
    • 9.1.1 Mobile statistics
  • 9.2 Major mobile operators
    • 9.2.1 Maroc Telecom (IAM)
    • 9.2.2 Medi Telecom (Meditel)
    • 9.2.3 Wana
  • 9.3 Mobile data services
    • 9.3.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
    • 9.3.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
    • 9.3.3 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
    • 9.3.4 BlackBerry
    • 9.3.5 Mobile TV
  • 9.4 Third generation (3G) mobile
    • 9.4.1 Licensing
    • 9.4.2 Services
  • 9.5 TETRA (TErrestrial Trunked RAdio)
  • 9.6 Satellite mobile
• 10. Forecasts
  • 10.1 Forecast fixed-line and fixed-wireless services – 2010; 2015
  • 10.2 Forecast Internet users – 2010; 2015
  • 10.3 Forecast broadband services – 2010; 2015
  • 10.4 Forecast mobile market – 2010; 2015
• 11. Glossary of Abbreviations

• Table 1 – Country statistics Morocco – 2009
• Table 2 – Telephone network statistics – March 2009
• Table 3 – Internet provider statistics – 2009
• Table 4 – Internet statistics – March 2009
• Table 5 – Mobile statistics – March 2009
• Table 6 – National telecommunications authority
• Table 7 – Fixed and fixed-wireless lines in service and teledensity – 1994; 1996; 1998; 2000 - 2009
• Table 8 – Internet users and penetration rate – 1997 - 2009
• Table 9 – International Internet bandwidth – 1999 - 2008
• Table 10 – Internet subscribers by ISP and market share – 2008
• Table 11 – Maroc Telecom Internet subscribers by access technology – 2003 - 2009
• Table 12 – Internet subscribers, ADSL subscribers (MT and total) – 2003 - 2009
• Table 13 – Distribution of ADSL access by speed – March 2009
• Table 14 – 3G mobile broadband subscribers by operator and market share – March 2009
• Table 15 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1994; 1996; 1998 - 2009
• Table 16 – Mobile operators, subscribers and annual change – March 2009
• Table 17 – Maroc Telecom domestic mobile subscribers and market share – 2002 - 2009
• Table 18 – Maroc Telecom domestic blended monthly mobile ARPU and churn rate – 2003 - 2008
• Table 19 – Maroc Telecom domestic mobile revenue and EBIT – 2005 - 2008
• Table 20 – Meditel mobile subscribers and market share – 2002 - 2009
• Table 21 – Maroc Telecom GPRS pricing – 2008
• Table 22 – Meditel GPRS pricing – 2008
• Table 23 – Forecast fixed-line and fixed-wireless subscribers – 2010; 2015
• Table 24 – Forecast Internet users – 2010; 2015
• Table 25 – Forecast broadband subscribers – 2010; 2015
• Table 26 – Forecast mobile subscribers – 2010; 2015

• Exhibit 1 – Analysis of Maroc Telecom’s fixed-line rollercoaster ride