2019 Morocco - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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Last updated: 27 Apr 2020 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 156

Publication Overview

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Morocco’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include:

  • Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
  • Facts, figures and statistics;
  • Industry and regulatory issues;
  • Infrastructure developments;
  • Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
  • Mobile Voice and Data Markets;
  • Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless);
  • Mobile subscribers and ARPU;
  • Broadband market forecasts;
  • Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
  • Market liberalisation and industry issues;
  • Telecoms operators – privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
  • Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G).

Researcher:- Henry Lancaster
Current publication date:- October 2019 (17th Edition)

Executive Summary

Morocco makes progress in expanding tele-medicine facilities

Morocco has developed one of the most advanced telecommunications markets in Africa, supported by the government’s Maroc Digital 2020 strategy to encourage the development of a digital economy and on the National Broadband Plan which aims to provide fixed or mobile broadband access to the entire population by 2022. The part-privatised incumbent telco Maroc Telecom remains the dominant player in the fixed-line sector though has effective competition in the mobile sector. A key regional player, Orange Group, entered the market through the acquisition of a major stake in the telco Médi Telecom.

Morocco’s fixed-line broadband market is dominated by Maroc Telecom. Despite regulatory efforts to enforce LLU and wholesale pricing there is little in the way of access to its networks and as a result the fixed-line broadband market has not developed to its potential. Nevertheless, a small number of operators, including Inwi and Orange Morocco, have begun to offer competing DSL services, albeit limited in reach. Despite these market limitations and Maroc Telecom’s near monopoly, Morocco has developed some of the lowest broadband prices and highest penetration rates in Africa. This has been helped by the excellent connectivity to international fibre cables.

The introduction and extension of mobile broadband services has gone far to improving access nationally. Mobile internet by mid-2019 accounted for 93.2% of all internet connections, leaving Maroc Telecom’s DSL service with most of the remainder. The dominance of mobile internet access is likely to continue given the improvements in LTE reach and capabilities, and the preference among consumers to adopt mobile solutions for both voice and data.

This report analyses Morocco’s fixed-line, broadband and mobile telephony sectors, including statistics, assessments of recent regulatory measures, details on licensing regimes and spectrum auctions, and profiles of the major players. The report also includes a range of subscriber forecasts to 2024.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

  • Government progresses with several key telecom projects, rekindles interest in selling an 8% stake in Maroc Telecom;
  • Maroc Digital 2020 strategy takes shape;
  • Government set up digital teaching in response to COVID-19 lockdown;
  • Maroc Telecom designated as having SMP in several market areas;
  • New cable connecting Mali and Morocco comes online;
  • Amendment to Telecommunications Act aimed at giving greater powers to the regulator;
  • National Broadband Plan to 2022 extending reach of services;
  • Government extends telemedicine services to more rural areas;
  • MNP process amended to make number portings automated;
  • Inwi launches Morocco’s first m-payment service;
  • Orange Maroc launches Orange Money;
  • Inwi and Maroc Telecom trial 5G technologies;
  • Report updates include the regulator's market data to December 2019, telcos' operating data to Q4 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Maroc Telecom, Orange Morocco (Médi Telecom, Méditel), Inwi (Wana), Vivendi, Zain, Morocco Trade and Development Services (MTDS)

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