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Marrakech – The Government Council approved nine decree projects on Thursday to renew satellite communication service licenses for telecommunications operators, aligning Morocco with the continent’s most advanced space and satellite actors.
Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, presented the licensing renewals during the weekly council meeting in Rabat. Government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas announced the decisions at a press briefing following the session.
The renewed licenses cover major telecommunications providers, including Maroc Telecom and Wana Corporate for VSAT satellite communication services. Green Development and Planning Company received dual renewals for both VSAT services and 3RP frequency-sharing radiocommunication networks.
Cires Telecom SA secured a license renewal for 3RP frequency-sharing technology operations. Three companies obtained renewals for GMPCS public satellite communication networks: Orbcomm Maghreb, Thuraya Maghreb SA, and Al Hourria Telecom.
Gulfsat Maghreb received approval to continue operating its VSAT public satellite communication network.
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) provided favorable recommendations for all renewal applications under current sector regulations.
According to a September 2025 report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Morocco ranks among Africa’s leading space actors, reflecting the North African country’s steady accumulation of satellite assets and regulatory approvals within a rapidly expanding continental space sector.
Morocco has launched five satellites to date, placing it alongside Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola among Africa’s most active space-faring states. These assets span Earth observation, communications, and scientific applications, developed through sustained investment and international cooperation.
The Mohammed VI-B Satellite, launched in 2018, strengthened national capacities in environmental monitoring, land management, and strategic planning.
Across the continent, governments allocate an estimated $500 million annually to space-related activities. Morocco features among the principal investors in this strategic field, where satellite technologies support border surveillance, maritime domain awareness, natural resource management, and wildlife protection.
More than 21 African countries now operate space programs, with 18 having launched at least one satellite. In total, Africa has deployed 65 satellites, with projections reaching 120 by 2030.
Institutional coordination has also expanded. The African Space Agency, inaugurated in Cairo, serves as a platform to streamline continental initiatives and reduce operational overlap.
At the international level, the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme, launched in 2025 with €100 million in funding, focuses on climate observation, agricultural monitoring, and disaster risk management.
Satellite services have become embedded in daily life across Africa, supporting television broadcasting, navigation services, and rural broadband connectivity. These systems function as instruments of sovereignty, security, and economic resilience rather than symbolic technological achievements.
Morocco’s recent license renewals align with this broader trajectory, enabling continued service provision across multiple satellite platforms.
