Morocco’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) announced the start of the bidding process for licenses to develop and operate fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks on Friday.
The rollout of 5G services in Morocco is scheduled to begin in November 2025, just in time for the Africa Cup of Nations, which the nation will host from January 9 to February 6, 2026.
The government aims to provide 5G coverage to 25% of the population by late 2025 or early 2026, with an ambitious target of reaching 70% coverage by 2030. Morocco will be co-hosting the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal in 2030.
In a strategic move earlier this year, national telecom operators Maroc Telecom and Inwi established two joint ventures—FiberCo and TowerCo, committing roughly US$475 million over the next three years. They aim to enhance fibre-optic connectivity and erect up to 6,000 telecom towers by 2033.
The 5G network will initially focus on major urban areas, economic centres, industrial zones, and innovation hubs before expanding into less populated regions. Cities hosting significant sporting events will receive comprehensive coverage by 2030.
By 2026, officials plan to connect approximately 6,300 public offices using fibre optics and aim to provide fibre access to 5.6 million households by 2030.
In 2023, investments in the telecommunications sector exceeded US$840 million to support digital transformation initiatives.
