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;
- Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
- Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
- Telecoms operators – privatisation, acquisitions, new licences and competition;
- Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
- Infrastructure development;
- National fibre backbone networks;
- Mobile voice and data markets, including 3G;
- Internet and broadband development and growth;
- Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile);
- 3G mobile broadband services and market share;
- Average revenue per user (ARPU) and churn.
Companies covered in this report:
Maroc Telecom, Medi Telecom (Meditel), Inwi (Wana, Maroc Connect), Morocco Trade and Development Services (MTDS).
Researcher:- Peter Lange
Current publication date:- November 2011 (10th Edition)
Executive Summary
More than 80% of the broadband market is mobile
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 fixed-line market has experienced a renaissance, following the launch of the country's second and third network operators and fuelled by the growing demand for broadband services. Most of the new connections are wireless and increasingly converging with mobile services. The mobile market was catapulted above the 100% penetration mark in early 2011.
The Internet market was dominated by MT’s ADSL broadband service which once held over 90% of the market. However, within four years of their introduction, third-generation (3G) mobile broadband services had taken more than three quarters of the broadband market by early 2011. 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.
Market highlights:
- Mobile penetration exceeds 100%;
- Decreasing ARPU and churn;
- 3G mobile dominates broadband sector;
- Fixed-wireless growth slows;
- Profiles of major players in all market sectors;
- Maroc Telecom 2011 H1 financial performance;
- Estimates for fixed-line, mobile and Internet markets to end-2012.
Distribution of ADSL access by speed – September 2011
|
Download speed
|
Market share
|
|
<1Mb/s
|
<1%
|
|
2Mb/s
|
48%
|
|
4Mb/s
|
25%
|
|
8Mb/s
|
25%
|
|
20Mb/s
|
1%
|
(Source: BuddeComm based on ANRT and company data)
