Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Marrakech – Morocco officially entered the era of high-speed mobile internet on Friday. The kingdom’s three national operators – Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, and inwi – simultaneously launched their 5G networks across the country.
This deployment follows the July licensing process and the final decree examined in the October 30 Council of Government meeting, chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, marking a historic date for Morocco’s telecommunications sector.
The launch comes as part of the “Morocco Digital 2030” strategy, with its timing coinciding closely with November 6, the symbolic 50th anniversary of the Green March.
The licensing process began on July 11, when the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) launched competitive bidding, with all three historical operators securing their licenses two weeks later.
Maroc Telecom obtained a 120 MHz band for MAD 900 million ($90 million), while inwi and Orange Maroc each acquired 70 MHz for MAD 600 million ($60 million), bringing the total license package to MAD 2.1 billion ($210 million) with validity extending for 20 renewable years.
For both the government and operators, 5G represents a pillar for modernizing the Moroccan economy by supporting industrial transformation, public service digitalization, and territorial attractiveness. Operators face strict coverage obligations: 45% of the population by 2026, expanding to 85% by 2030.
Beyond the licensing fees, the ANRT estimates the total deployment cost will exceed MAD 80 billion ($8 billion) by 2035.
The arrival of 5G comes at a highly symbolic time. Morocco will host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) later this year and co-organize the 2030 World Cup. These events will demand high-quality connectivity and network reliability, making the timing of 5G’s introduction particularly timely and strategic for showcasing the country’s technological capabilities.
From the first hours of launch, many users noticed the “5G” logo appearing automatically on their phones. For most subscribers, no SIM card replacement and no plan modification were required. Access to 5G is immediate for clients with compatible smartphones in covered zones, with operators confirming that existing SIM cards already support 5G authentication and therefore do not need to be upgraded.
Expected benefits are significant. 5G offers speeds reaching 2 Gbps, ten times faster than 4G, with notably reduced latency for smooth streaming, online gaming, and videoconferencing. The connection is also more stable, even in high-density areas, providing consistent performance where 4G might struggle.
Beyond consumer use, 5G constitutes a major tool for industrial transformation. It enables advanced applications: telemedicine, smart logistics, connected factories, precision agriculture, and more. With ultra-fast speeds and increased reliability, it is a catalyst for transitioning to Industry 4.0.
Operators and public authorities see 5G as a factor for digital inclusion and competitiveness. They expect it to attract foreign investment and strengthen Morocco’s position as an African technology hub, while also providing enhanced connectivity in previously underserved areas.
Orange Maroc’s 5G offering
Orange Maroc has launched 5G coverage in 135 provinces and prefectures. The operator aims for a progressive extension across the national territory in the coming months, building on its existing infrastructure and expertise from the Orange Group’s 5G deployments in 13 other countries.
“Orange Maroc launches 5G in Morocco. More than a technology, it’s a new way of living, working, and sharing that instantly brings Moroccans closer to what really matters,” the operator states in its launch communication. 5G allows users to “share precious moments with loved ones in high definition, without latency or interruption,” it stresses.
For Orange subscribers with compatible devices and 4G SIM cards in covered areas, 5G access is automatic. The operator confirmed that no additional cost will be applied, stating clearly on its portal that “no surcharge is applied” and that “all Orange customers, with a plan line or a refill line, are eligible for 5G.”
In its launch communication, Orange highlights that its network is built on more than 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable connecting Tanger to Dakhla. The company has invested over MAD 100 billion ($10 billion) since its creation in building a robust national infrastructure to support next-generation services.
On its website, Orange Maroc prominently features the advantages of 5G: “5G offers ultra-fast download speed for a fluid and instant experience. Up to 3 times faster than 4G, it pushes the limits of connectivity. It also connects homes not covered by fiber to high-performance broadband. Thanks to 5G, enjoy cloud gaming, uninterrupted streaming, and mobile virtual reality.”
Orange Maroc Director General Hendrik Kasteel describes 5G as “more than a technical advancement, it is a lever for inclusion, innovation, and competitiveness serving Morocco.” He adds, “With 5G, Orange Maroc takes a new step in its mission: bringing Moroccans closer to what is essential to them.”
The company also argues that its 5G “combines performance and environmental responsibility. More energy efficient than 4G, it provides optimal connectivity while significantly reducing its carbon footprint,” positioning the technology as part of a sustainable digital future.
Inwi’s 5G deployment
Inwi, describing itself as the market leader in Mobile Internet with over 18 million users, has launched its 5G network with ultra-fast speeds exceeding 2 Gbps. In its official press release, inwi states that its network offers “minimal latency and expanded capacity,” redefining the connected experience for both individuals and businesses.
“With ultra-fast speeds, which can exceed more than 2 Gb/s, minimal latency and increased capacities, inwi 5G redefines the connected experience of individuals and businesses, confirming the position of the global operator as a pioneering and disruptive player serving a digital and inclusive Morocco,” declares the company’s communiqué.
From launch day, inwi’s 5G covers the main cities of the kingdom. The company points out that “the ultra-fast speed allows instant transfer and sharing of files, mockups, and videos, regardless of their size. Minimal latency guarantees video conferences of unprecedented realism and real-time reactivity on business tools. Increased capacities allow connecting several devices simultaneously without loss of performance.”
For mobile customers, inwi made a clear consumer-friendly statement: “5G inwi is accessible immediately and at no extra cost. It is automatically accessible for all mobile customers without changing their offer or SIM card.” The operator clarifies that “inwi SIM cards are already 5G compatible, customers with a compatible smartphone present in a covered area can enjoy this new connected experience.”
With the launch, inwi has introduced several prepaid and postpaid plans offering data volumes adapted to different usage patterns, with speeds potentially exceeding 2 Gbps. The company states that these formulas are “offering data volumes adapted to different uses, with speeds that can exceed more than 2 Gbps.”
To meet household needs, inwi has also launched the “5G i-Box,” which it describes as “a simple and high-performance plug & play solution. Thanks to the power of 5G, it guarantees ultra-fast, stable, and secure WiFi, ideal for remote work, gaming, streaming, as well as all the connected home uses of everyday life.”
For businesses, inwi has unveiled the “5G Business Connect” box, which “combines the power of very high-speed with the simplicity of an all-in-one solution, integrating a landline and tailor-made options to connect employees, visitors and equipment with superior performance.”
The company adds that “inwi Business mobile plans, now 5G compatible without additional fees or steps, guarantee professionals a new generation mobile experience, faster, more stable, and more productive.”
Maroc Telecom’s 5G services
Having just revealed its new red branding yesterday, Maroc Telecom also joined the others in the operationalization of its 5G network today.
The company describes this launch as “a major step in the digital development of the kingdom,” illustrating “the Group’s desire to offer its customers the most innovative technologies, through an increasingly efficient network and unequaled quality of service.”
In its official statement, Maroc Telecom promises that “customers with compatible smartphones will automatically switch to the 5G network without extra charges in covered zones.”
For the company, “this simple, fluid and transparent transition will allow them [users] to instantly enjoy ultra-fast connectivity, reduced latency, and an unprecedented network experience from the moment of launch.”
To accompany this evolution, Maroc Telecom offers new 5G plans starting at MAD 119 with generous data allowances. The operator states that “users will also benefit from offers integrating premium services, such as TOD (the official streaming platform of beIN SPORTS), StarzPlay or Glovo Prime, for an even more complete and entertaining digital experience.”
The operator includes Roaming service in 5G plans starting at MAD 199, declaring that this feature “allows customers to stay connected around the world,” addressing the needs of frequent travelers who expect consistent connectivity across borders.
With “El Manzil 5G,” Maroc Telecom proposes what it calls “a new generation BOX that brings the power of 5G to the heart of homes.” According to the company, it “guarantees stable, fast Wi-Fi with large capacity, allowing the entire family to browse and stream simultaneously, without quality compromises, thus propelling digital home use to an unprecedented level.”
This 5G deployment “is based on the massive investments made by Maroc Telecom in its telecommunications infrastructures in recent years,” the company argues, outlining that it “has modernized its mobile and fixed network, strengthened the capacity of its transmission platforms, and deployed next-generation infrastructure connecting the entire territory.”
Maroc Telecom positions 5G as going “well beyond performance,” opening “the way to new uses: augmented reality, real-time online games, telemedicine, distance education, or connected vehicles.”
As the company sees it, 5G “also constitutes a major lever for digital transformation for companies and administrations, by facilitating the development of intelligent solutions in the sectors of industry, logistics, energy, or agriculture.”
Technical aspects and user requirements
The 5G deployment in Morocco uses both the 700 MHz band for wide-area coverage and the 3.4-3.8 GHz band (often called “mid-band” or n78) for capacity and higher speeds.
This dual-band approach creates a complementary network structure: the lower 700 MHz frequency provides extensive geographical reach and better building penetration, while the mid-band delivers the dramatic speed improvements and capacity that define the 5G experience. This spectrum allocation aligns with European and Asian standards, ensuring better equipment interoperability across the global ecosystem.
Most Moroccan 5G cells will initially run in NSA (non-standalone) mode, leveraging the existing 4G core for signaling while delivering 5G data on the air interface. This pragmatic approach allows operators to launch services quickly while building out their infrastructure.
The networks will eventually migrate to SA (standalone) cores that unlock advanced features like network slicing for dedicated service quality guarantees. The transition from NSA to SA represents a significant architectural evolution that operators will implement gradually as traffic patterns and use cases evolve.
With massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) antennas and beamforming technology on mid-band spectrum, users can expect steadier speeds in crowded places. Unlike conventional antennas that broadcast signals in all directions, massive MIMO uses dozens of small antennas to focus energy precisely where needed, dramatically improving efficiency.
Beamforming allows the network to track devices and direct signals specifically toward them rather than broadcasting omnidirectionally. This technology helps maintain consistent performance even in densely populated areas or during peak usage times, addressing a common pain point of previous-generation networks.
The backhaul infrastructure – the connections linking cell sites to the core network – has been significantly upgraded to support 5G’s increased data volumes.
According to industry reports, over 80% of urban sites in Morocco now use fiber backhaul, which is critical for handling the multi-gigabit speeds 5G can deliver. This fiber foundation prevents bottlenecks between the radio access network and the core.
How 5G differs from 4G in real life goes well beyond speed tests. Users can expect smoother multiplayer gaming with ping times reduced from 50+ milliseconds to under 10ms, virtually eliminating the lag that affects competitive play.
It makes video streaming more stable, with 4K and even 8K content playing without buffering, even on mobile connections. Video calls gain remarkable clarity and stability, approaching in-person quality even in motion, while cloud applications respond almost instantly, making remote work feel more seamless.
The less visible improvements may prove equally valuable: mapping applications lock onto real-time traffic conditions faster and with greater accuracy; ride-hailing and delivery services track positions with meter-level precision rather than the broader approximations of 4G; and media uploads – whether social content like stories and reels or professional work files – complete in seconds, often before users would typically switch to Wi-Fi.
These quality-of-life improvements accumulate to create a fundamentally different mobile experience, where the network’s presence becomes almost invisible due to its reliability and responsiveness.
The technical implementation introduces several infrastructure challenges that operators have been addressing over recent months. Deploying massive MIMO antennas requires precise engineering and calibration, while the densification of radio sites in urban areas involves complex zoning and installation logistics.
The fiber optic backhaul between base stations has been systematically strengthened to eliminate potential bottlenecks, and the virtualized network core has been designed to dynamically manage bandwidth according to usage patterns, ensuring efficient resource allocation across the network.
Using 5G requires a compatible smartphone – for Apple devices, iPhone 12 or newer; for Android, most mid-to-high-end phones released since 2020. The device must also have 5G capability enabled in its network settings to access the new network when in coverage areas.
To activate 5G on an iPhone, users need to update to the latest iOS, then go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Voice & Data and select 5G Auto or 5G On. For Android devices, the path varies by brand but generally involves accessing network settings to select 5G as the preferred network type.
Unlike the transition to 4G, which often required SIM card replacement during 2014-2016, 5G works with existing SIM cards. This is because virtually all cards issued since 2017 are USIMs compatible with both LTE and 5G authentication protocols, making the upgrade process simpler for customers.
Back in 2014-2016, many SIMs in circulation were old 2G/3G-only SIMs that did not support LTE authentication, requiring operators to issue new “USIM” cards for 4G compatibility. Today, the limitation is no longer the SIM’s generation, as current cards already support 5G.
Beyond consumer use: Economic and social impact
According to the ANRT, 5G is not merely a digital comfort upgrade but a productivity tool targeting industrial sectors. The technology aims to serve productive needs in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, and other key economic domains beyond consumer entertainment.
For everyday users, the transition to 5G translates to download speeds exceeding 2 Gbps in favorable conditions, with latencies that feel “instant” for video calls and cloud applications. Performance remains smooth even in previously congested locations like festivals, airports, and stadiums.
The latency reduction – from 4G’s 30-50ms to 5G’s 1-10ms – represents a quiet revolution in user experience: maps respond instantly to navigation changes, gaming feels local even when servers are distant, and live video maintains consistent quality without buffering.
With 5G, inwi Business can support effective deployments of industrial automation in Industry 4.0 mode. The network provides the technology and service necessary for implementing proactive remote maintenance with connected machines and digital twins in industrial units, energy production parks, smart mines, and major logistics complexes.
These capabilities allow businesses to monitor equipment health in real-time, predict failures before they occur, and optimize operations continuously.
Morocco’s need for 5G extends far beyond consumer streaming. Regulators position it as critical industrial infrastructure – enhancing ports and logistics along Tanger Med corridors, enabling smart manufacturing in automotive and aerospace sectors, facilitating telemedicine with high-resolution imaging, supporting precision agriculture with thousands of field sensors, and improving connected transport systems.
The ANRT consistently emphasizes that lower latency and higher device density (up to 1 million connected devices per square kilometer) are the true enablers for real-time use cases – autonomous systems on factory floors, remote inspections using augmented reality, and field sensors that feed irrigation systems in southeastern agricultural zones.
Remote services to individuals, particularly in telemedicine, now benefit from unprecedented realism and precision. Medical professionals can conduct remote consultations with diagnostic-quality video and real-time access to patient data.
This capability enables greater adoption of remote access to public services and increased geographical accessibility for Moroccan citizens, especially in underserved regions where specialist healthcare has traditionally been limited.
For enterprises, 5G enables the deployment of private campus networks on factory floors, industrial zones, and large corporate sites, offering dedicated coverage and guaranteed performance for critical operations.
Through network slicing, operators can create virtually independent logical networks on the same physical infrastructure, each tailored to specific needs – whether allocating guaranteed bandwidth for mission-critical control systems, optimizing low-power connectivity for IoT devices, or maximizing throughput for media production and real-time collaboration.
5G also enhances business continuity, functioning as a high-reliability wireless backup when fiber connections fail, with speeds and stability approaching those of physical lines. These capabilities substantially improve operational resilience, reduce downtime risks, and enable more flexible industrial workflows across sectors ranging from automotive manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and energy infrastructure.
On pricing and offers, all three operators introduced their first 5G commercial plans on launch day, often bundling 5G access with existing high-tier data buckets while teasing enterprise options to follow. Some offers are automatically enabled for eligible customers, while others require a plan change.
As with 4G’s early days, consumers should expect brisk promotional rotation as operators test different price points and bundle 5G with streaming services like TOD and StarzPlay, cloud storage options, or device financing packages.
Industry analysts anticipate that prices will follow the typical pattern of new technology adoption: premium positioning initially, followed by gradual price reductions as coverage expands and adoption increases.
Morocco’s approach to 5G regulation and deployment has been characterized as structured and predictable, rooted in transparency and fair competition. This methodology sets the country apart from other emerging markets by ensuring long-term investment stability and coordinated rollout across all operators.
The synchronized launch across all three providers represents a strategic decision to prevent market fragmentation and ensure consistent service quality nationwide.
The technology serves as the connectivity foundation for the “Made in Morocco” initiative across multiple sectors, positioning the country as a digital leader in the region while creating new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth through enhanced connectivity and reduced digital divides between urban and rural areas.
