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Doha – Orange Morocco has signed a strategic agreement with Ericsson to modernize and expand its network infrastructure, preparing for the introduction of 5G technology in the country.
The partnership, announced on Thursday, aligns with Morocco’s Digital 2030 strategy aimed at advancing the country’s digital transformation, according to a press release from the company.
The collaboration will enable Orange Morocco to integrate cutting-edge technologies, specifically Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core and Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution, optimized for hosting cloud-native 5G applications, the statement indicates.
This modernization will increase the operator’s network capacity and enhance customer experience while building a scalable network architecture for 5G implementation, according to the announcement.
Through this strategic partnership, Orange Morocco will introduce the “Ericsson Cloud Core Policy Controller,” ensuring high scalability, improved network resilience, and new business models, as specified in the company’s communication.
The telecommunications operator will also expand its network with additional IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Ericsson Packet Core sites to strengthen Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services and provide highly reliable 4G and 5G services, the release states.
“Orange Morocco places innovation and customer satisfaction at the heart of its strategy,” said Hendrik Kasteel, CEO of Orange Morocco. “This partnership with Ericsson reinforces our commitment to offering an increasingly powerful, reliable network adapted to the growing digital needs of Moroccans.”
Majda Lahlou Kassi, President of Ericsson Morocco and VP Ericsson West Africa and Southern Africa, added: “At Ericsson, our customers’ success is central to our mission. We are proud to support Orange Morocco in this major transformation, which aims to respond to rapidly evolving connectivity needs.”
The modernization also includes improving automation and orchestration of cloud-native infrastructure through upgrades to Ericsson Network Manager, Orchestrator, and Network IQ Statistics software already used by Orange Morocco to orchestrate its network, as detailed in the announcement.
This partnership continues a 20-year cooperation between Orange Morocco and Ericsson, demonstrating the Moroccan operator’s commitment to anticipating the country’s future connectivity needs and strengthening its role as a pillar of national digital development, according to the companies.
According to the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), the commercial launch of 5G in Morocco is scheduled for early November 2025, just before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations. Implementation will begin in major cities before gradually extending to less dense and more remote areas.
The Morocco Digital 2030 plan aims to achieve 25% population coverage by the end of 2025, increasing to 70% by 2030. The ambitious goal is to ensure nationwide coverage for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The arrival of 5G will significantly impact various sectors, including intelligent transportation, home automation, and productivity in next-generation industrial units, according to industry analysts. Agriculture, public services, and the digitalization of administrative procedures will also receive a strong boost.
A key element in this process is the strategic agreement signed in late March between Maroc Telecom and Inwi to accelerate the deployment of fiber optics and 5G throughout the country through infrastructure sharing via two joint ventures: Tower Co for 5G and FiberCo for fiber optics.
