Morocco has developed one of the most advanced telecommunications markets in Africa, supported by the government’s Maroc Digital 2020 strategy to encourage the development of a digital economy and on the National Broadband Plan which aims to provide fixed or mobile broadband access to the entire population by 2022. The country had the fastest mobile broadband data rates in Africa as of June 2020, a testament to investments made by the MNOs over the years.
The part-privatised incumbent telco Maroc Telecom remains the dominant player in the fixed-line sector though it has effective competition in the mobile sector. The fixed-line broadband market remains dominated by Maroc Telecom. In February 2020 the company was heavily fined for failing to enable competitor access to its DSL infrastructure, but despite these regulatory efforts to enforce LLU and wholesale pricing there is little in the way of access to its networks and as a result the fixed-line broadband market has not developed to its potential.
The introduction and extension of mobile broadband services has gone far to improving access nationally. Mobile internet by early 2020 accounted for 93.3% of all internet connections, leaving Maroc Telecom’s DSL service with most of the remainder. The dominance of mobile internet access is likely to continue given the improvements in LTE reach and capabilities, and the preference among consumers to adopt mobile solutions for both voice and data.
This report analyses Morocco’s fixed-line, broadband and mobile telephony sectors, including statistics, assessments of recent regulatory measures, details on licensing regimes and spectrum auctions, and profiles of the major players. The report also includes a range of subscriber forecasts to 2025.
BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.
On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.
Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.
The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.
Key developments:
- Government progresses with several key telecom projects, sells an 8% stake in Maroc Telecom;
- Maroc Telecom launches a revised m-payment solution through its subsidiary MT Cash;
- Telecom regulator fines Maroc Telecom MAD3.3 billion for uncompetitive practice in denying other telcos access to LLU services;
- Orange Group extends international money transfer solution from France to include Morocco;
- World bank provides $500 million to fund Morocco’s digital transformation;
- Maroc Digital 2020 strategy takes shape;
- Government sets up digital teaching in response to COVID-19 lockdown;
- National Broadband Plan to 2022 extending reach of services;
- Inwi and Maroc Telecom trial 5G technologies;
- Report updates include the regulator's market data to December 2019, telcos' operating data to Q2 2020, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.
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Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the world’s largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.
The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report:
Report title: Morocco - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
Edition: 18th (September 2020)
Analyst: Henry Lancaster
Number of pages: 156
Single User PDF Licence Price: US$1,150
For more information or to purchase a copy of the full report please use the following link: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Morocco-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?r=83
