Inside Morocco’s Internet Revolution: From Fiber Optics to Satellite Access

Morocco has experienced a dramatic expansion in internet connectivity over the past decade. As of early 2024, there were 34.47 million internet users in the country, representing an internet penetration rate of about 90.7% of the population datareportal.com datareportal.com. (For comparison, this marks a jump from around 84% in 2021 freedomhouse.org.) The vast majority of Moroccans online access the internet via mobile networks, reflecting the country’s strong mobile market. In fact, mobile phone subscriptions exceed the population size – with 51.36 million cellular connections (135% penetration) as of 2024 datareportal.com. This high penetration is due to many users owning multiple SIMs and the ubiquity of mobile service. The mobile market is served by three major telecom operators: Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, and Inwi, which together dominate both mobile and fixed internet services trade.gov. Maroc Telecom (partially owned by Etisalat) is the former state incumbent and the largest provider, while Orange (formerly Meditel) and Inwi (part-owned by Zain) are the other key players. According to recent figures, Maroc Telecom holds about 42.9% of the mobile market, Orange 33.2%, and Inwi 23.9% trade.gov. These three companies also offer fixed-line internet (ADSL, fiber, etc.) and effectively account for almost all internet subscriptions in Morocco trade.gov trade.gov.

Infrastructure: Morocco’s internet infrastructure is a mix of robust backbone networks and last-mile connectivity that is still evolving. Fiber-optic cables form the core of national and international connectivity, linking major cities and connecting Morocco to submarine cables across the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Within cities, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is growing rapidly, though until recently it was limited. Maroc Telecom and its rivals have been expanding fiber networks, aiming to reach millions of households by the mid-2020s. At the same time, legacy ADSL copper lines remain common for fixed broadband, especially in areas where fiber hasn’t yet rolled out. On the wireless side, 4G LTE networks cover the vast majority of the population, following license obligations that required 4G coverage of at least 65% of the population by 2020 trade.gov. All three operators launched 4G in 2015-2016 and have since extended mobile broadband coverage to most urban and rural areas. By mid-2023, the government reported that 95% of identified rural “white spots” (enclaved villages) had mobile internet coverage, with the remaining few hundred localities slated to be connected by the end of 2023 freedomhouse.org lavieeco.com. This suggests Morocco has achieved near-universal basic coverage (via 3G/4G) for its population, a significant milestone in bridging the urban-rural digital divide. Meanwhile, 5G has been tested successfully by all major operators and is on the horizon. The telecom regulator (ANRT) planned a 5G spectrum auction by late 2023 or early 2024 trade.gov, and operators have lined up equipment contracts in anticipation. Although commercial 5G is not widely available yet, Morocco views next-generation networks as critical to its digital strategy and prepared pilots in cities like Rabat and Casablanca trade.gov.

In summary, Morocco’s internet ecosystem is characterized by high mobile usage, increasing fiber deployment, and strong government push for modernization. The table below highlights the major ISPs (telecom operators) and their offerings:

Table: Major Internet Service Providers in Morocco and their offerings. Note: Market share data is for mobile segment; all three operators also offer fixed services. Speeds and prices are indicative and subject to promotional changes. (MAD = Moroccan Dirhams; 10 MAD ≈ 1 USD.)

Types of Internet Access

Moroccans get online through a variety of access types, reflecting both modern trends and the country’s unique needs:

• Mobile Broadband: By far the most prevalent form of internet access. Over 93% of all internet subscriptions are mobile (using 3G/4G data) trade.gov. This includes smartphone users with data plans and those using 4G LTE routers (“box” devices) for home internet. Given the affordability and coverage of mobile networks, many households, especially in rural or low-income settings, rely on mobile broadband instead of a fixed line. All three operators offer monthly data bundles (e.g. 10 GB, 20 GB, or “unlimited” with fair-use caps) at competitive prices. For example, a 50 GB monthly data plan costs around 199 MAD (≈$20) across providers bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com. After exhausting high-speed data caps (often 40–90 GB), speeds are throttled, but basic connectivity remains bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com. Mobile broadband has brought internet access even to remote villages, via extensive 3G/4G coverage. The popularity of smartphones (around 80% of mobile phones in use are smartphones trade.gov trade.gov) has further driven mobile internet usage. In short, mobile is the default on-ramp to the internet for most Moroccans, whether through personal phones or shared hotspot devices.
• Fixed Broadband (Home Internet): Fixed-line internet is available mainly through ADSL and an expanding fiber-optic network. ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) over copper telephone lines is widely used in cities and towns. It offers basic reliable connectivity with speeds typically ranging from 4 Mbps up to 20 Mbps bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com. Maroc Telecom, the legacy provider, offers ADSL plans starting as low as 4 Mbps for ~99 MAD and up to 20 Mbps for ~399 MAD monthly bewilderedinmorocco.com. Orange and Inwi, by contrast, often price a 20 Mbps ADSL plan around 199 MAD (making Maroc Telecom’s ADSL relatively pricier) bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com. ADSL is considered sufficient for general web browsing, SD video streaming, and VoIP, though it struggles with high-definition streaming or large downloads. In recent years, Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) has emerged as the “gold standard” of fixed broadband bewilderedinmorocco.com. Fiber connections are now available in most major cities (Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, etc.) and even mid-sized cities, though coverage within cities is focused on certain neighborhoods. Fiber offers ultra-high speeds from 50 Mbps up to 200 Mbps or more bewilderedinmorocco.com. Maroc Telecom’s standard fiber packages were 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps (priced at 500 MAD and 1000 MAD respectively) en.yabiladi.com bewilderedinmorocco.com, until an upgrade in 2025 doubled speeds (100 Mbps users got bumped to 200 Mbps, and 200 Mbps users to 1 Gbps) en.yabiladi.com en.yabiladi.com. Orange and Inwi fiber plans typically start at 50 Mbps (~349 MAD after promo) and go up to 100 or 200 Mbps in the 349–500 MAD range bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com. The advantage of fiber is much faster download/upload speeds and low latency, enabling HD video streaming, rapid file transfers, and a better experience for remote work and online gaming. While fiber subscriptions still form a relatively small fraction of total internet subscriptions (the vast majority being mobile), the government has an ambitious goal of connecting millions of households with fiber in coming years (see Future Outlook). Fixed broadband, whether ADSL or fiber, usually comes with Wi-Fi routers that users purchase (rather than rent) – an interesting local practice where the customer owns the router, incurring an upfront cost of ~100–400 MAD depending on the tech bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com.
• Public Wi-Fi: Publicly accessible Wi-Fi is available but not yet ubiquitous in the way of some developed countries. In urban centers, Wi-Fi hotspots are common in cafés, restaurants, malls, and hotels, often provided by the establishment for free to patrons. For example, airports and major train stations in Morocco offer free Wi-Fi for travelers lonelyplanet.com. There have also been government and university initiatives to broaden public Wi-Fi access. A program launched in 2021 installed over 18,000 Wi-Fi access points across 12 public universities to give students free internet on campus samenacouncil.org. This significantly improved connectivity for university students. Some city municipalities have experimented with offering free Wi-Fi in public squares or tourist areas, though these are usually limited pilot projects. Overall, while not blanket-covered by municipal Wi-Fi, Morocco’s cities do have many “pockets” of public Wi-Fi, and the widespread use of affordable mobile data somewhat reduces reliance on public Wi-Fi networks. Still, for those without mobile data or traveling, these hotspots provide valuable connectivity. Tourists often note that Morocco’s hospitality sector is quite digitally friendly, with even traditional riads and cafés in medinas advertising Wi-Fi availability.
• Satellite Internet: (Discussed in detail in a later section.) In brief, satellite-based internet access has historically been minimal in Morocco, limited to specialized VSAT links for remote businesses or government use. However, new satellite broadband services (such as SpaceX’s Starlink) are poised to enter the Moroccan market, targeting areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. Satellite internet could become an important option for connecting the last 1–2% of the population in extreme rural or nomadic areas, as well as providing backup connectivity for critical applications. This is an emerging component of Morocco’s internet ecosystem, bridging remaining gaps where neither fiber nor mobile signals reach.

Urban vs. Rural Access

Like many countries, Morocco faces an urban–rural digital divide, though one that has been narrowing steadily. Internet access in cities is near-saturated, whereas rural areas lag somewhat behind in both access and quality. As of 2022, 91.6% of urban residents were internet users, compared to about 77.3% of rural residents freedomhouse.org. In other words, most people in cities are online, but roughly one-quarter of the countryside population remained offline (as of that date). The gap has improved from earlier years (e.g. in 2016, rural internet use was much lower), thanks to aggressive network expansion. Mobile coverage disparity: All three operators have invested in covering rural Morocco with mobile towers. By mid-2023, the government reported 95% of previously unconnected rural localities now have cellular internet coverage, under a universal service program freedomhouse.org lavieeco.com. This program (part of the National Plan for Broadband) initially identified 10,740 rural “enclaved” areas lacking service; by 2023, 10,230 of these had been covered (95% success) lavieeco.com. The remaining few hundred villages were scheduled for connectivity by end of 2023 lavieeco.com. Indeed, a new phase in 2024 aims to connect 1,800 additional rural areas beyond those originally tallied dig.watch dig.watch. These efforts are funded by Morocco’s Universal Service Fund and carried out by the operators under ANRT supervision. The typical solution is to extend 3G/4G coverage (often using solar-powered towers and microwave backhaul) to remote villages. As a result, basic mobile internet is now available in most inhabited corners of Morocco – from the Rif mountains to the Sahara oases.

That said, quality and usage still differ between urban and rural settings. In cities like Casablanca, Rabat, or Agadir, consumers can access high-capacity fiber networks and multiple mobile providers, often enjoying faster speeds and unlimited data options. Urban users are also more likely to afford home broadband plans. In rural areas, many users rely on a single mobile provider (often Maroc Telecom, due to its wider coverage footprint bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com) and may experience lower bandwidth. For instance, a farmer in a small village might only get 3G signal or a basic 4 Mbps ADSL line, whereas a family in urban Rabat can have 100 Mbps fiber. Statistics illustrate this divide: A 2021 study noted that internet penetration was 91% in urban areas vs. 75% in rural areas freedomhouse.org. It also found urban dwellers had more access to devices like smartphones and computers. However, these gaps are closing year by year. By early 2024, only about 9.3% of the total population remained offline nationwide datareportal.com datareportal.com, and much of that 9.3% resides in rural communities (often older adults or low-income households). The government’s Digital Inclusion initiatives aim to reach these last-mile users through both infrastructure and literacy programs.

One notable government program is the “National Plan for the Development of Broadband and Very High Broadband”, which explicitly targets rural connectivity. It has a strong digital inclusion component, bringing not just networks but also e-services to countryside residents. For example, the latest rural connectivity initiative is tied to enabling online access to 600 government digital platforms (for e-health, e-education, e-agriculture, etc.) for rural citizens dig.watch dig.watch. This means once a village is connected, local people can benefit from services like telemedicine consultations, remote schooling resources, and online market information for farmers. The broader “Maroc Digital 2030” strategy similarly emphasizes reducing the urban-rural digital gap so that modernization benefits are evenly distributed opensignal.com. In practice, beyond network rollout, this involves setting up community telecentres, subsidizing devices or internet for low-income rural families, and encouraging development of local-language content and apps useful for rural users (such as weather alerts, crop prices, etc.).

The table below summarizes some Urban vs. Rural connectivity indicators:

Table: Urban vs Rural Internet Access in Morocco. Urban areas enjoy almost universal internet availability and higher speeds, while rural areas have seen vast improvements in coverage, though penetration and speed still trail behind cities. Continued government programs aim to close this gap.

Overall, Morocco’s case is one of rapid progress toward universal internet access. If current plans hold, virtually every village will have at least a basic broadband connection (via 4G or satellite) within a couple of years. The remaining challenges lie in uplifting the quality of rural connectivity (moving from basic coverage to true high-speed access) and ensuring affordability and digital literacy so that rural communities can fully utilize the internet. These points are addressed in subsequent sections on affordability and future outlook.

Internet Pricing and Affordability

How affordable is internet access in Morocco? The answer is mixed: in absolute terms, Morocco’s data prices are among the lowest in Africa, but relative to income levels a segment of the population still finds internet costly.

Mobile data pricing: Mobile internet is relatively cheap in Morocco. According to 2023 global comparisons, the average cost of 1 GB of mobile data is about $0.63 voronoiapp.com. This places Morocco among the top 5 African countries for affordable data (cheaper than in Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, etc.) and around the 60th cheapest out of 230+ countries worldwide bestbroadbanddeals.co.uk. In practical terms, Moroccans can purchase data bundles very inexpensively: for example, 10 GB of mobile data for roughly 50 MAD (about $5). Prepaid packages from Maroc Telecom (“Pass Jawal”), Orange, and Inwi offer a range of options – from daily 500 MB passes to monthly 20 GB bundles – ensuring that users of different means can get online esim.holafly.com. Furthermore, special offers like Inwi’s “Waki WiFi” 4G Box give unlimited data for short periods (e.g. 7 days for 100 MAD, 30 days for 300 MAD) which benefit tourists or families needing temporary internet bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com. The competition among the three telcos tends to keep data prices in check. It is not unusual to see promotions doubling data allowances or offering nightly unlimited usage, etc. As a result, for most Moroccans, mobile internet is one of the more affordable utilities, often cheaper than electricity or fuel on a per-month basis.

Fixed broadband pricing: Fixed internet (ADSL/fiber) is costlier relative to mobile, but still reasonable by global standards. ADSL, being older technology, has modest prices: a basic ADSL plan (4 Mbps) can cost as low as 99 MAD/month (Maroc Telecom’s entry plan) bewilderedinmorocco.com, though higher speeds come at higher prices (their 20 Mbps ADSL is ~399 MAD) bewilderedinmorocco.com. Orange and Inwi typically price ADSL 12–20 Mbps around 199 MAD after initial discounts bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com. For fiber, prices correspond to the high speeds delivered. 100 Mbps fiber was about 400–500 MAD per month in 2024 (depending on provider), while 200 Mbps might be ~500–650 MAD (though as noted earlier, Maroc Telecom revamped its fiber plans in 2025 to 100 Mbps @ 400 MAD, 200 Mbps @ 500 MAD, 1 Gbps @ 1000 MAD) en.yabiladi.com. Orange and Inwi’s fiber at 50 Mbps came at an effective ~349 MAD (after the first 3 months at promo 249 MAD) bewilderedinmorocco.com, and they often include free installation and router. When comparing these prices internationally, a 100 Mbps plan for ~$40–$50 is quite competitive; however, within Morocco, such a cost is still a luxury for many households. It’s worth noting that the average monthly income in Morocco is a few thousand MAD, so a 500 MAD internet bill can be a significant expense for lower-income families.

To assess affordability more formally, organizations use metrics like the share of income needed for internet access. A recent Internet Poverty Index report (2024) found that about 4.3% of Moroccans (over 1.6 million people) cannot afford even a basic internet package under the standard definition (1 GB per month at 10 Mbps for less than 10% of income) meatechwatch.com meatechwatch.com. The study ranked Morocco 105th globally in internet affordability meatechwatch.com – indicating that while prices are low, the purchasing power and income inequality issues leave some behind. The report cited an average monthly internet cost of around $4.4 in Morocco meatechwatch.com (for a basic mobile package), which seems low, but for poor households even that can exceed 10% of their income. In rural areas especially, families sometimes have to pool resources for a single subscription or rely on government programs. The Moroccan government recognizes this challenge; for instance, as part of the rural 5G/satellite expansion, they plan to subsidize rural internet subscriptions by up to 2,500 MAD for eligible users to improve uptake samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org.

Comparisons: Regionally, Morocco’s internet pricing is generally more affordable than many neighboring countries. For example, mobile data in Algeria or Mauritania is often pricier per GB (Algeria’s average is ~$0.48/GB, Mauritania ~$2.74/GB) connectingafrica.com, and those markets have less competition. Tunisia’s internet prices are in a similar range to Morocco’s, though Tunisia’s lower income levels can make it relatively less affordable there. Compared to global averages, Morocco’s ~$0.63/GB mobile data cost is well below the world average of ~$2.5/GB atlasandboots.com. Fixed broadband prices in Morocco, when measured against advertised speeds, are also quite attractive – for instance, paying ~$50 for 200 Mbps would be a bargain in North America or Europe – but of course average income differences mean the context is not directly comparable.

Value for money and trends: Importantly, the value (speed/quality per price) in Morocco has been rising. Over the last few years, customers have seen speeds increase and data caps widen without proportional price hikes. For example, Maroc Telecom doubling fiber speeds in 2025 at no extra cost en.yabiladi.com en.yabiladi.com, and Inwi slashing its 200 Mbps fiber price from 649 to 449 MAD moroccoworldnews.com, show a trend of improving affordability of high-speed plans. Mobile operators also frequently increase data allowances or include freebies (social media passes, night data, etc.) to add value. Moreover, with potential entrants like satellite providers, competition could further pressure prices (though satellite internet itself will likely be premium-priced initially). The government’s push for digital inclusion by 2030 includes efforts to lower the cost barrier – whether through subsidies, encouraging cheaper technologies, or simply fostering competition.

In summary, Morocco has some of the cheapest mobile internet in Africa, and fixed broadband, while more expensive, is becoming progressively more affordable for the middle class. The main affordability concern remains for the poorest households. For them, initiatives like community Wi-Fi, shared access centers, or targeted subsidies will be key so that no Moroccan is left offline due to cost.

Quality and Speed of Internet

Morocco’s internet quality has improved markedly in recent years, as evidenced by rising bandwidth speeds and better user experience. Yet, it still trails global leaders in raw speed metrics, and there are disparities in quality between different regions and providers.

Internet speeds: According to Ookla Speedtest data, at the start of 2024 the median mobile download speed in Morocco was about 36.5 Mbps, and the median fixed broadband download speed was around 26.4 Mbps datareportal.com. These figures represent the typical user experience (half of users get faster, half slower). While not chart-topping, they reflect a steady climb. For instance, mobile median speeds were ~31 Mbps a year prior and jumped by +15% in 2023 datareportal.com. Fixed broadband medians saw an even bigger leap of +46% year-on-year (from ~18 Mbps to ~26+ Mbps) datareportal.com, thanks largely to fiber rollout accelerating. This has moved Morocco into a respectable position in Africa – its average fixed speed (~62 Mbps) now ranks among the fastest on the continent en.wikipedia.org (Morocco is often cited just after South Africa in African broadband speed rankings). Still, compare this to global averages: the worldwide average download in 2021 was ~113 Mbps for fixed and ~63 Mbps for mobile worldpopulationreview.com, and top countries like Singapore or the UAE boast hundreds of Mbps en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Morocco doesn’t match those; but regionally, it’s closing the gap. In fact, Morocco’s fixed broadband speed was once on par with countries like Bulgaria/Romania in the mid-2000s, but due to slower early fiber adoption it fell behind documents.worldbank.org documents.worldbank.org. Now with new investments, it’s catching up again.

Mobile network experience: Independent analyses show that Morocco’s mobile networks deliver a generally good experience, especially by African standards. Maroc Telecom tends to lead on most performance indicators. In a 2024 OpenSignal report, Maroc Telecom won awards for the best download and upload speeds, video streaming quality, and latency among the three operators opensignal.com opensignal.com. Orange and Inwi were slightly behind, though Inwi had the highest 4G Availability (users on Inwi spent ~94% of time connected to at least 3G/4G) opensignal.com opensignal.com. Typical 4G download speeds in Morocco range from 20–40 Mbps in strong coverage areas (urban zones often on the higher end, rural on the lower). For example, in late 2024 the cities of Casablanca and Rabat recorded median broadband speeds around 35–37 Mbps for downloads communicationsafrica.com communicationsafrica.com. These are decent, though note they refer to fixed Wi-Fi tests; mobile-only tests show similar figures for 4G. One point to improve is consistency: Maroc Telecom had a “Consistent Quality” score of 57% (meaning in 57% of tests it met thresholds for good video calls, etc.), whereas Inwi lagged at 31% opensignal.com opensignal.com. This indicates some users, especially on Inwi, face drops or slowdowns that hinder high-bandwidth applications. Moreover, OpenSignal highlighted that Moroccan users still spend a significant amount of time with no signal or on 2G/3G compared to some other markets opensignal.com opensignal.com. This suggests that coverage gaps and older networks persist in certain areas (likely remote or indoor spots where 4G hasn’t fully penetrated). The ongoing 4G expansion and upcoming 5G deployment aim to address these gaps.

Fixed broadband quality: For those with fiber, internet quality in Morocco can be excellent – fiber offers low latency and very stable throughput. User satisfaction among fiber subscribers is generally high; many report that activities like HD streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing are smooth. A challenge previously was that the incumbent (Maroc Telecom) controlled most fiber infrastructure and sometimes offered limited wholesale access, affecting competition and quality of service. However, a recent regulatory change in March 2025 requires all operators to share fiber networks nationwide on wholesale terms en.yabiladi.com. This “fiber unbundling” is expected to improve service quality and choices, as Orange and Inwi can deliver services over Maroc Telecom’s fiber in areas they haven’t built their own, fostering competition on quality and customer service. Indeed, immediately after this ruling, providers doubled speeds and adjusted prices, indicating a positive impact on consumers en.yabiladi.com en.yabiladi.com. For ADSL users, quality varies – line distances and aging copper mean some subscribers get lower-than-advertised speeds or occasional outages. But overall, Morocco’s fixed networks are reasonably reliable, with uptimes usually above 99% except during rare cable cuts or power outages (for instance, a major power outage in Spain/Portugal in 2023 briefly disrupted Morocco’s internet via international links meatechwatch.com, but such events are uncommon).

Latency and international connectivity: Morocco benefits from its proximity to Europe with undersea fiber cables, keeping latency to Europe around 30-50 milliseconds, which is good for online gaming and VoIP. Access to content is also enhanced by local caching (e.g., Google and Facebook have cache servers in Morocco), improving load times for popular sites. The country’s international bandwidth is set to increase with new submarine cables (such as the massive 2Africa cable landing in nearby countries and likely benefitting Morocco) and terrestrial fiber links across the Strait of Gibraltar. This bodes well for future speed and quality, ensuring that as local networks get faster, the international backbone can handle the traffic.

User satisfaction: Surveys and anecdotal evidence suggest moderate-to-high satisfaction with internet services in Morocco. Urban users who have upgraded to fiber express strong satisfaction with the speed improvements (“night and day difference” as one user described going from ADSL to fiber bewilderedinmorocco.com bewilderedinmorocco.com). Mobile users appreciate the widespread coverage – it’s possible today to stream a YouTube video from the heart of the Sahara (e.g. Merzouga dunes) using 4G, which was unimaginable a decade ago. However, common complaints include: occasional congestion (especially on mobile networks during peak evening hours, when speeds can dip), high ping times for gamers on mobile connections, and customer service issues with the ISPs (delays in repairs, etc.). There is also a quality gap between providers: Maroc Telecom’s customers generally report the best coverage and speed, while some Inwi customers in less-covered areas complain of weaker signals. The regulator ANRT monitors quality of service and has begun publishing comparative indicators. In 2025, ANRT even launched campaigns to measure fixed internet quality across regions, to hold operators accountable for advertised speeds fesnews.media.

In summary, Morocco’s internet is getting faster and more reliable year by year, though it’s not yet among the world’s elite in speed. The combination of enhanced infrastructure (fiber, 4G/5G) and healthy competition is driving quality up. Average users can now stream HD video, participate in Zoom calls, and browse the modern web with relative ease, which is a significant improvement from, say, 10 years ago when buffering and high latency were more common. The continued focus on upgrading rural connectivity and introducing technologies like 5G and satellite (for resilience) will further boost the overall quality of Morocco’s internet experience.

To put the speed figures into perspective, here’s a brief ranking snapshot for Morocco:

Table: Morocco’s internet speeds vs. global context. (Global rank estimates are approximate. Morocco’s rank improves each year as its speeds grow faster than the global average.)

The above shows that Morocco’s improvements have been quite rapid, especially in fixed broadband (nearly +47% in one year), reflecting the fiber expansion. With the advent of 5G and more fiber, we can expect Morocco to climb further in speed rankings over the next 5 years.

Regulatory and Policy Landscape

Morocco’s internet revolution has been guided by a proactive regulatory framework and national digital strategies. The central player is the ANRT (National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency), which oversees telecom licensing, spectrum, competition, and consumer protection in the sector. ANRT has played an important role in liberalizing the market over the years – from the introduction of new mobile operators in the 2000s to, more recently, enforcing infrastructure sharing.

Regulatory environment: The telecom sector is governed by the Telecom Act and subsequent amendments, under which ANRT operates. ANRT’s mandate includes ensuring fair competition, quality of service, and universal access. In practice, this has meant actions like: licensing new entrants, setting coverage obligations, and penalizing anti-competitive behavior. A notable case was in 2020 when ANRT fined Maroc Telecom a record 2.45 billion MAD (approximately $240 million) for abusing its dominant position by denying competitors access to its network infrastructure freedomhouse.org. Maroc Telecom appealed in 2022 freedomhouse.org, but the message was clear – the regulator would not tolerate monopoly practices that stifle competition (the case was mainly about Maroc Telecom allegedly hindering Orange and Inwi from unbundling the local loop or accessing backbone, which limited broadband competition). Subsequently, ANRT has doubled down on pro-competition measures. For example, in March 2025 it issued a groundbreaking decision (Decision DG/05/2025) requiring all operators to share their fiber-optic networks on regulated wholesale terms en.yabiladi.com. This essentially “opens up” Maroc Telecom’s extensive fiber infrastructure for Orange and Inwi to use (for a fee), preventing the incumbent from solely controlling high-speed broadband access. This decision is expected to spur competition in fiber services, leading to better offers for consumers – a trend already observed with the speed and price upgrades announced by operators in 2025 en.yabiladi.com en.yabiladi.com.

On the spectrum and licensing front, ANRT has managed the introduction of new technologies. The agency auctioned 3G licenses in the mid-2000s, 4G licenses in 2015 (with conditions to extend coverage to rural areas) trade.gov, and is now preparing for 5G licensing. As of early 2024, ANRT signaled that a 5G spectrum auction was expected by end of 2023 or early 2024 trade.gov (though it appears to have been slightly delayed, possibly to 2025 per government announcements). All three mobile operators are anticipated to receive 5G licenses, given they have already conducted pilot trials and invested in 5G-ready infrastructure trade.gov. In terms of numbering and domain regulation, ANRT also administers things like .ma domain registrations and IP address allocations in Morocco.

National policies and strategies: The Moroccan government has for years recognized ICT as a driver of development. Earlier programs like “Maroc Numeric 2013” and “Maroc Digital 2020” set targets for expanding broadband, e-government, and digital skills. Building on those, the current strategic vision is encapsulated in the Digital Morocco Plan 2021–2025 and the emerging Digital Strategy 2030. The 2021–2025 plan, led by the Ministry of Digital Transition, aims to “use digitalization and stimulate ICT entrepreneurship to support broader national development.” It focuses on improving connectivity (especially broadband access), developing digital government services, and fostering innovation and startups trade.gov trade.gov. Indeed, one of its stated goals is to make Morocco a leading digital tech hub in Africa trade.gov. The key enablers include expanding cloud infrastructure, AI adoption, and connectivity improvements trade.gov trade.gov. The forthcoming Maroc Digital 2030 strategy (an evolution of these plans) is even more ambitious – with heavy investments (over $1 billion allocated in 2023 alone to telecom infrastructure samenacouncil.org) to ensure Morocco keeps pace with the global digital revolution. Digital 2030 explicitly ties into mega-events (like Morocco co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup) as deadlines to achieve world-class connectivity in all major cities samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org.

ANRT’s role in universal service: A critical aspect of policy is universal internet access. ANRT manages a universal service fund (contributed by telecom operators) that finances rural connectivity projects (often branded “PACTE” or similar). As discussed, tens of millions of dollars have been spent to extend mobile networks to rural localities – often via agreements where the operators share the rollout burden. The universal service program 2018–2023 was hugely successful in achieving 99% population coverage samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org. The next phase (2024–2026) will leverage satellite for the truly remote spots samenacouncil.org, demonstrating how policy is technology-neutral in pursuing the goal of 100% coverage.

Internet governance and freedom: While not the focus of this report, it’s worth noting Morocco is classified as “Partly Free” in terms of internet freedom by Freedom House freedomhouse.org. The regulatory landscape includes laws on cybersecurity, cybercrime, and content. In recent years, there have been proposed laws to criminalize certain “fake news” on social media freedomhouse.org and cases of online censorship, particularly around sensitive topics (like the monarchy or Western Sahara). These issues fall under the broader policy landscape too. The government balances promoting internet access with controlling unlawful or harmful content. ANRT itself is not a content regulator, but other bodies like the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) and legal courts handle content-related regulations.

Institutional coordination: Morocco’s approach to digital policy involves multiple stakeholders – the Ministry of Digital Transition (for overall strategy and e-gov), ANRT (for telecom regulation), the Agency for Digital Development (ADD) which works on digital economy projects trade.gov, and sectoral ministries (like education, which rolled out online learning platforms). There has historically been some fragmentation, but recent strategies aim for more cohesive governance. For example, the government created a dedicated Ministry of Digital Transition in 2021 to unify efforts. Laws have also been updated to facilitate digital processes (as seen with laws on electronic transactions, data protection, etc. mentioned in the Digital Economy guide trade.gov trade.gov).

In summary, Morocco’s regulatory and policy framework has catalyzed the internet revolution. By liberalizing the market, investing in infrastructure (public-private partnerships), and keeping an eye on inclusivity, regulators have enabled Morocco to leapfrog from low connectivity to a regional leader. Challenges remain (e.g., ensuring operators comply with quality standards, and maintaining competition as technologies evolve), but the overall direction – guided by policies like Digital Morocco 2030 – is firmly toward a more connected, digitally empowered society.

Satellite Internet in Morocco

A stack of SpaceX Starlink satellites prepared for launch. Morocco is looking to satellite constellations like Starlink to help extend high-speed internet to remote areas that terrestrial networks struggle to reach.

An exciting new frontier in Morocco’s connectivity journey is satellite broadband. Traditionally, satellite internet in Morocco was limited to niche uses: VSAT dishes serving bank ATMs in remote towns, or connecting isolated border posts and corporate mines where no other options existed. These legacy satellite links were often slow (comparable to dial-up or basic DSL) and expensive, making them impractical for general consumers. However, the emergence of high-throughput satellite (HTS) services and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellations is a potential game-changer. Recognizing this, Moroccan authorities are moving to integrate satellite internet into the national broadband strategy.

Starlink and OneWeb: In late 2024, Morocco’s telecom regulator ANRT announced it is preparing to license SpaceX’s Starlink and the OneWeb network to operate in Morocco samenacouncil.org. This would mark the first time mass-market satellite internet becomes officially available in the country. The plan is for these services to begin by 2025, aligning with Morocco’s goal of 100% connectivity. Starlink, in particular, has generated buzz due to its performance: it offers download speeds of 100–500 Mbps with latency as low as 20–40 ms (much better latency than traditional satellites) samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org. Such performance is comparable to 4G/5G and even fiber for many applications, enabling smooth video calls, streaming, and online gaming in areas that previously had no broadband at all. OneWeb, which is now part of the French satellite company Eutelsat, also aims to deliver high-speed connectivity (though OneWeb’s focus might be more on backhaul and enterprise connectivity). The Moroccan government sees these platforms as ideal to cover hard-to-reach regions – the High Atlas mountains, deep Saharan deserts, and other pockets where laying fiber or maintaining cell towers is extremely challenging samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org.

As of early 2025, Starlink is not yet officially available for purchase in Morocco (some tech enthusiasts managed to acquire Starlink kits via other countries and tested them, but widespread use awaits regulatory approval) reddit.com. This should change once licensing is in place. When launched, Starlink will require users to buy a satellite dish kit and subscribe monthly. In other countries, the kit costs around $600 and the service about $80–$100 per month; we can expect similar pricing in Morocco (perhaps with adjustments or subsidies for rural users, as hinted by government aid of up to 2,500 MAD per subscription in remote areas) samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org. While these prices are high compared to typical fiber or 4G plans, the target users are those who currently have no connectivity or whose alternative is a very slow 2G connection. For a remote village cooperative or a desert tour camp, paying ~$100 a month to get 100 Mbps internet can be transformational – allowing access to e-commerce, digital banking, e-learning, etc., where there was none.

Coverage and deployment: One advantage of satellite constellations is that coverage is not limited by national borders. By 2023, Starlink’s network of thousands of LEO satellites had blanketed most of North Africa from the sky; the only holdup in Morocco was regulatory authorization. That means the moment Morocco gives the green light, the service can theoretically go live nationwide overnight. Every corner of Morocco, from the Rif mountain hamlets to Saharan nomadic areas, could have broadband signal availability – a profound shift from the current situation. The government explicitly mentioned using satellite to reach the “remaining regions” not covered by terrestrial networks samenacouncil.org, and even to extend 5G coverage via satellite backhaul to 1,800 rural areas by 2026 samenacouncil.org. This suggests a hybrid model: remote cell towers might be hooked to the internet via Starlink/OneWeb instead of fiber, broadcasting 4G/5G to users – or alternatively, households in those areas might get satellite terminals directly. Notably, Starlink already proved its worth in Morocco during emergency scenarios: after the Al Haouz earthquake in 2023, Starlink units were reportedly deployed to provide connectivity in disaster zones when terrestrial networks were disrupted telquel.ma telquel.ma. This demonstrated the resilience and quick setup benefits of satellite internet.

Regulatory status: Morocco’s approach to licensing Starlink/OneWeb appears to be one of cautious approval. Authorities want to ensure these services integrate with national priorities and do not sidestep regulations (such as requirements to channel traffic through local gateways for security). The ANRT has been in talks with SpaceX; there is also the consideration of Western Sahara (some reports suggested Starlink might seek to cover that disputed region, which adds political sensitivity) africaintelligence.com. However, the direction is clearly toward authorization. By embracing these satellite providers, Morocco would join a growing list of countries enabling LEO satellite internet for consumers. ANRT’s likely terms could involve requiring local representation or partnership (for example, working with a Moroccan ISP or distributor), as well as adherence to Moroccan telecom laws.

In parallel, Morocco is also exploring its own satellite communications capabilities. In late 2023, a Moroccan company (Panafsat) signed a partnership with Thales Alenia Space to develop a Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) system covering 26 African countries (including Morocco) telquel.ma. This is part of Morocco’s push for digital sovereignty – ensuring it has some control or stake in critical digital infrastructure. The VHTS, once operational, could deliver additional satellite bandwidth regionally and perhaps complement services like OneWeb/Starlink.

Challenges of satellite internet: Despite its promise, satellite internet isn’t a silver bullet without challenges. First, cost is a big factor – the equipment and subscription are expensive relative to incomes, meaning it may need to be subsidized (as the government plans to do for rural users) samenacouncil.org. Second, satellite capacity is not infinite; if too many users in one area use it heavily, speeds could decline. However, given Morocco’s use-case (sparsely populated zones), this is less of a concern than in a dense city. There are also technical issues like needing a clear view of the sky (mountain terrain or dense urban areas might obstruct signals). Additionally, regulatory concerns like spectrum interference (satellite signals using Ku/Ka bands) and space debris are noted by ANRT. The authorities will monitor that satellite providers do not interfere with existing radio communications and adhere to international guidelines (Morocco is party to ITU agreements on satellite slots, etc.). Lastly, astronomy and environmental concerns have been raised globally about large constellations – Moroccan universities and astronomers may echo these, but that’s a global issue more than a local policy one.

All told, the advent of satellite internet in Morocco is poised to fill the last gaps in the network map. It’s an “overhead” solution to an “overland” problem. Within a year or two, we can expect stories of remote Saharan schools or clinics coming online via Starlink, or villagers in the High Atlas video-calling relatives thanks to a shared satellite connection. Satellite internet will not replace fiber or mobile in built-up areas – but for Morocco’s geographically challenging spots, it could be revolutionary. The combination of fiber optics beneath the ground and satellites above the clouds truly encapsulates Morocco’s comprehensive approach to connectivity in the 2020s.

Challenges and Opportunities

Morocco’s internet revolution faces challenges to overcome but also opens up new opportunities for the country’s development:

• Closing the Remaining Digital Divide: While coverage is nearly universal, a usage gap persists – the roughly 9% of Moroccans still offline are predominantly poor, illiterate, or very rural. Ensuring these populations not only have coverage but can afford service and have the skills to use it is a key challenge. The government will need to expand digital literacy programs (especially for older adults and in rural communities) and perhaps introduce social tariffs or free minimum internet packages for low-income users. The opportunity here is to achieve true digital inclusion – bringing the benefits of e-learning, telehealth, and e-commerce to all citizens. When a rural artisan can sell crafts online or a student in a mountain village can attend virtual classes, the digital divide truly closes and the economy can grow more equitably.
• Affordability and Competition: As noted, internet access cost remains a hurdle for some. Keeping prices affordable will require robust competition among ISPs. A challenge is that the market effectively has only three operators (a triopoly), and historically Maroc Telecom’s dominance was hard to challenge. However, with new regulations (fiber sharing, potential entry of global players like Starlink, etc.), there is an opportunity for enhanced competition. This could manifest in new ISPs or niche providers entering the market, possibly as virtual operators using existing networks to offer cheaper or localized services. Additionally, the push for open-access infrastructure might allow smaller ISPs to serve areas using wholesale fiber capacity. The opportunity is for Morocco to perhaps see ISP startups or community networks emerge, adding dynamism to the market and driving prices down further.
• Infrastructure Investment and Modernization: One ongoing challenge is the sheer investment needed to modernize telecom infrastructure across a large country. Laying fiber to millions of homes, deploying thousands of new 5G small cells, and launching satellites or building data centers – all require capital. The government has put significant funds (over MAD 8.4 billion in 2023 for telecom support samenacouncil.org) and set targets (like 5.6 million fiber-connected homes by 2030 samenacouncil.org). Private operators too must invest; Maroc Telecom and Inwi recently agreed to spend MAD 4.4 billion on shared infrastructure (fiber and 5G) budde.com.au. The challenge is ensuring a return on investment in a market where ARPU (average revenue per user) is not very high. However, the opportunity lies in public-private partnerships and international financing. Morocco’s relatively stable environment and its Africa strategy (Maroc Telecom’s presence in 10 African countries trade.gov) can attract foreign investment in telecom. We already see companies like Oracle, Microsoft, and Huawei investing in Morocco’s digital infrastructure trade.gov trade.gov (Oracle building cloud data centers, Huawei supplying 4G/5G gear, etc.). Morocco could position itself as a regional telecom hub – leveraging its location to land more submarine cables and host data farms that serve West Africa and Europe.
• Regulatory Balancing (Innovation vs. Control): Regulators face the challenge of encouraging innovation while maintaining control over the network (for security, cultural, or fiscal reasons). For example, services like VoIP (WhatsApp calls) were at times restricted in Morocco due to telecom revenues, though that ban was lifted due to public outcry. Going forward, the rise of new technologies (IoT, fintech, blockchain, etc.) will pose regulatory questions. The opportunity here is for Morocco to craft forward-looking regulations that support innovation – e.g., sandboxing new services, updating laws for fintech – which can make it a leader in the MENA tech space. There is also opportunity in improving e-governance and cybersecurity. As more critical services go online, strong cyber regulations and capabilities are needed (Morocco has to tackle challenges like cyberattacks or data privacy concerns). Developing this will protect the digital economy and build citizen trust in online services.
• Tech Entrepreneurship and the Digital Economy: Perhaps the most exciting opportunity arising from improved internet access is the growth of Morocco’s tech startup ecosystem and digital entrepreneurship. Better connectivity has already given birth to thriving online sectors – e-commerce platforms (e.g., Jumia, and local marketplace Avito), fintech apps (mobile payment usage is rising), digital media, and outsourcing companies. Morocco’s young population (median age 29) is tech-savvy and increasingly entrepreneurial. With solid internet infrastructure, they can create startups serving not just Morocco but the African and Arabic-speaking markets. In 2022, Morocco saw its first tech “unicorn” – Chari.ma, an e-commerce fintech startup, valued over $100 million trade.gov trade.gov. This signals what’s possible. The government, in its Digital 2030 strategy, is offering new incentives (tax breaks, funding facilities) to nurture more tech startups and incubators trade.gov. Challenges for startups include limited venture capital and bureaucratic hurdles trade.gov, but those are being gradually addressed. The opportunity is that Morocco could become a regional tech hub, attracting entrepreneurs from Francophone Africa and the Middle East. Events like GITEX Africa (hosted in Marrakech in 2023 and 2024) moroccoworldnews.com highlight Morocco’s ambition to be at the center of Africa’s digital future. With strong internet connectivity as a foundation, more jobs can be created in IT services, digital content creation, and innovative sectors – reducing brain drain and fostering homegrown solutions for local challenges.
• Digital Services and Society: Widespread internet also enables Morocco to tackle social challenges through digital means. For example, tele-education can help address gaps in rural schooling, telemedicine can ameliorate doctor shortages in remote areas, and e-government can combat corruption and inefficiency. The challenge is implementing these effectively and ensuring the population is ready to use them. But Morocco’s progress in e-government (now ranked 100th globally, up from 140th in 2008 trade.gov trade.gov) shows improvement. The Open Data initiative (Morocco ranked 35th in Open Data Inventory trade.gov) is another opportunity – leveraging internet to increase transparency and civic engagement. Culturally, as more of society comes online, there’s the challenge of managing content (hate speech, misinformation), but also the opportunity of a more informed, connected citizenry. Moroccan youth are heavy social media users (21 million social media users, 55% of population as of 2024 datareportal.com datareportal.com), which can be harnessed for education, entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural exchange if channeled positively.

In summary, Morocco’s rapidly improving internet environment is at a crossroads of challenges and opportunities. The key challenges include ensuring no one is left behind (coverage, cost, skills), fostering competitive and innovative markets, and securing the digital realm. The opportunities range from economic (startups, foreign investment, digital services export) to social (inclusive education, telehealth) and even geopolitical (positioning as Africa’s digital gateway). How Morocco navigates the next few years – through smart regulation, investment, and inclusive policies – will determine how fully it can capitalize on the internet revolution to fuel broader development. The momentum is there, and if sustained, Morocco could emerge as a digital leader in Africa, with a vibrant online economy and a population empowered by connectivity.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Morocco’s internet landscape is poised for further transformation. The period up to 2030 has been charted out in national plans with clear targets and emerging technologies that will define the next chapter of the revolution.

5G Era and Next-Gen Mobile: By the end of 2025, Morocco expects to have 5G networks commercially deployed. The rollout will start in major cities – Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, Fez, Agadir – particularly as Morocco prepares to host events like AFCON 2025 (Africa Cup of Nations) and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org. The government has announced ambitious 5G coverage goals: 25% of the population covered by 2026, and 70% by 2030 samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org. This implies a rapid deployment over the next few years, focusing not only on cities but also extending outward. By 2030, 5G should be prevalent in most towns and along transport corridors, enabling ultra-fast wireless internet (peak speeds in the gigabits) and low-latency connections. This will unlock new applications: Internet of Things (IoT) networks for smart agriculture and smart cities, advanced industry automation, and perhaps consumer services like AR/VR experiences. The challenge will be building enough fiber backhaul and small cells for 5G, but plans to fiberize thousands of sites are underway samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org. We can expect that by 2030, Morocco’s mobile users will experience an average download speed several times higher than today’s 4G, and use cases like remote drone operation, tele-surgery, or autonomous vehicle infrastructure could become feasible, especially in urban centers.

Fiber to Millions of Homes: On the fixed side, the government’s fiber expansion targets are very concrete: connect 4.4 million households by 2025 and 5.6 million households by 2030 to high-speed fiber internet communicationsafrica.com samenacouncil.org. If achieved, this would make Morocco one of Africa’s most fiber-connected nations (for context, 5.6 million homes is a huge chunk of the country’s ~9 million households). It means that in the next 5–7 years, fiber optics will reach deep into suburbs and smaller towns that today might only have DSL. The focus is not just on homes but also public facilities: by 2026, 6,300 public administration sites (like schools, hospitals, government offices) are to be equipped with fiber samenacouncil.org. This will vastly improve public service delivery, enabling HD video conferencing for telemedicine in rural clinics, high-speed networks in schools for digital education, etc. We will likely see internet speeds in Morocco continue to climb annually as fiber proliferates. By 2030, it’s plausible that average fixed broadband speeds could exceed 100 Mbps nationwide, with top-tier offerings at 10 Gbps (as technology like XGS-PON fiber is deployed). Additionally, fiber backbone projects (like new cross-country fiber routes and international links) are expected, potentially making Morocco a transit hub for data between Europe and West Africa. With Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), cloud computing, and other bandwidth-heavy applications growing, this fiber backbone will be critical.

Global Connectivity and Collaborations: Internationally, Morocco is strengthening its digital ties. It’s part of regional infrastructure projects (for example, discussions of a Mediterranean tech cable linking North African countries, and being a landing point for the huge 2Africa subsea cable system). Improved international connectivity will reduce latency and cost for internet in Morocco. Collaborations with global tech companies are also on the rise – e.g., Microsoft and Google are exploring cloud regions in Morocco trade.gov trade.gov, which could arrive by the late 2020s, complementing Oracle’s investment. This would mean more localized content hosting, faster access to services, and Morocco as a cloud services exporter to Africa. We also see Morocco partnering in African digital initiatives: its companies (like Maroc Telecom) will likely keep investing in sub-Saharan African ISPs, sharing Moroccan expertise and benefiting from larger markets. The Smart Africa Alliance and other forums have Morocco as an active member, so expect the country to champion continental projects like pan-African digital markets or cross-border e-payment systems.

Satellite and Beyond: By 2030, satellite internet will likely be an established part of Morocco’s connectivity mix. Starlink and OneWeb could each have tens of thousands of Moroccan subscribers, mostly in rural areas, and possibly a government contract to connect remote schools or as a backup network for emergencies. Morocco’s own VHTS satellite project with Thales might launch by then, giving it proprietary capacity in the sky telquel.ma. There’s even the possibility of regional satellite hubs – Morocco might host a gateway station for OneWeb or a Starlink ground station given its strategic location and stable environment. Beyond traditional satellites, other emerging tech could come into play: High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) – essentially internet delivered via stratospheric balloons or drones (like Google Loon concept) – though Loon shut down, the idea of atmospheric connectivity remains and Morocco’s wide rural expanses could be testbeds.

Digital Economy and Society in 2030: If infrastructure goals are met, by 2030 Morocco will be heavily digital. One can envision scenarios such as: a farmer in the Rif using a smartphone app with AI to get personalized crop advice (enabled by nationwide 5G and IoT sensors on fields); a startup in Casablanca leveraging high-speed internet and cloud AI to service clients worldwide; a doctor in Marrakech remotely treating a patient in a Saharan village via telepresence robotics; tourists in 2030 World Cup cities sharing 8K live streams over seamless public 5G networks; government services possibly offered in a “digital by default” mode (with secure digital IDs and online portals handling most citizen needs). E-commerce, which already grew in the late 2010s, could explode once more people trust online payments – the ubiquity of internet will push regulators to enhance digital finance (Morocco is introducing mobile wallets and could be nearly cashless in urban areas by 2030). Also, by connecting its population, Morocco is cultivating a more knowledge-based economy – meaning more opportunities in outsourcing (contact centers were just the start; now it’s IT outsourcing, engineering services, etc., thanks to connectivity). Indeed, the MoroccoTech initiative launched in 2022 aims to promote the country’s tech sector internationally, and by 2030 the fruits of that could be visible: perhaps Morocco known as a regional innovation hub where African startups come to collaborate, leveraging Morocco’s networks and its trilingual talent pool (Arabic, French, English speaking youth).

Potential obstacles: It’s worth acknowledging uncertainties. Achieving these plans will require maintaining political and economic stability, as well as keeping up investment levels. External factors like global economic downturns could tighten budgets, or technological disruptions (cyber threats, for example) could create setbacks. Climate change is another consideration – Morocco’s push for solar energy (it’s big in adopting solar farms) might intersect with powering remote telecom sites sustainably. But overall, the trajectory is positive.

Conclusion of outlook: The next decade for Morocco’s internet can be summed up as one of convergence and leadership. Fiber optics underground, 5G on the ground, and satellites in the sky will converge to provide a multi-layered, robust connectivity fabric. Morocco is positioning itself not just to connect its own citizens but to serve as a digital crossroads between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. With enlightened policy and sustained effort, the country’s internet revolution will likely yield an inclusive digital society and a competitive digital economy by 2030. In essence, Morocco is moving from catching up in the internet space to potentially setting the pace – inside this revolution from fiber optics to satellite access, Morocco could inspire other nations on how to blend technology, policy, and opportunity for a connected future.

Sources:

1. DataReportal – Digital 2024: Morocco (Key statistics) datareportal.com datareportal.com datareportal.com
2. U.S. International Trade Administration – Morocco Telecommunications Overview (2024) trade.gov trade.gov trade.gov
3. Freedom House – Freedom on the Net 2023: Morocco (Obstacles to Access) freedomhouse.org freedomhouse.org
4. La Vie Éco – “Internet et télécoms: 95% des régions enclavées sont couvertes” (June 2023) lavieeco.com lavieeco.com
5. Digital Watch Observatory – Morocco expands high-speed internet to rural areas (May 2024) dig.watch dig.watch
6. Morocco World News – Report on Internet Affordability (Dec 2024) meatechwatch.com meatechwatch.com
7. Voronoi (via Atlas & Boots) – Global Cost of Mobile Data 2023 (Morocco at $0.63/GB) voronoiapp.com
8. Morocco World News – ANRT Fiber Optic Network Sharing Decision (March 2025) en.yabiladi.com en.yabiladi.com
9. OpenSignal – Morocco Mobile Network Experience Report (March 2024) opensignal.com opensignal.com
10. Communications Africa – Morocco’s infrastructure ready for AFCON (Ookla report) (April 2025) communicationsafrica.com communicationsafrica.com
11. TelQuel (English) – “ANRT to authorize Starlink & OneWeb by 2025” (Nov 2024) telquel.ma telquel.ma
12. SAMENA Council News – “Morocco to grant licenses to Starlink/OneWeb” (Nov 2024) samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org
13. SAMENA Council News – “Morocco 5G rollout plans (25% by 2026, 70% by 2030)” (Jan 2025) samenacouncil.org samenacouncil.org
14. Trade.gov – Morocco Digital Economy & Startup Ecosystem (2023/24) trade.gov trade.gov
15. Yabiladi – “Maroc Telecom doubles fiber speeds in 2025” en.yabiladi.com en.yabiladi.com (illustrating market response to fiber sharing).