Rabat – The Global Connectivity Index (GCI) for 2019 published by technology company Huawei has ranked Morocco third in Africa for 4G coverage, behind South Africa and Egypt.
Despite ranking high continentally, Morocco ranked 61st globally on a list that included 79 countries. The kingdom maintained the same position as on the 2018 ranking.
The index is based on 40 different indicators, including IT infrastructure, digital transformation and competitiveness, and potential growth.
Morocco earned a score of 36 out of 120 points, scoring below the global average of 51.08 points.
“Morocco has improved its score for 4G investment over the last year, despite its overall ranking below the global average. Along with South Africa, Morocco has some of the best 4G coverage in Africa, with 60% of the country area covered by LTE mobile technology,” says the report.
“Mobile broadband subscriptions saw a 2-point improvement, as did smartphone penetration, despite broadband becoming less affordable this year. Internet usage also expanded over last year,” according to the index.
The document also suggests that Morocco continues “to grow its digital infrastructure, increase online content, expand citizens’ access to broadband with an emphasis on developing digital skills, and support local service providers in developing the local IT market and building potential.”
The report adds that, despite Morocco being an African leader in 4G mobile broadband with increasing numbers of subscribers able to access 4G networks, the country will not get 5G until 2022.
Through its “Digital Plan 2020,” the kingdom aims to become one of the three most competitive countries in the MENA region for its IT infrastructure and business environment by 2020.
The report states that South Africa has the best 4G connectivity in Africa and the 52nd globally. Egypt ranked second in the continent (58th globally), followed by Morocco and Algeria (68th). The last 10 spots of the rankings include eight other African countries.
In the MENA region, Gulf countries ranked better than North African nations, with the UAE ranking 23rd globally, followed by Bahrain (40th), Oman (42nd), Saudi Arabia (43rd), and Kuwait (46th).
On the global scale, the report ranks the United States first, followed by Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, and Denmark.
