• Orange Maroc partners with Ericsson to deploy industrial 5G solutions for enterprises
• Operator expands B2B portfolio beyond connectivity into AI, cloud and cybersecurity
• Telecom B2B market exceeds $400 billion globally, driven by digital transformation demand

Orange Maroc plans to deploy industrial 5G connectivity solutions for the enterprise segment. The initiative aims to address growing demand for advanced services required to implement digital transformation strategies.

The company signed a partnership with Ericsson during GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech. Under the agreement, Ericsson will provide a full industrial 5G platform within Orange Maroc’s “5G Lab.”

The platform will allow the operator to develop a broad catalog of B2B use cases that Moroccan companies can test and validate.

Applications will cover smart logistics, public services, energy and smart territories. The platform will also deliver resilient and secure connectivity for critical environments, particularly in utilities, energy and strategic infrastructure sectors.

“Our dedicated 5G platform will enable companies to build smarter and more efficient operations through secure, high-speed connectivity, which is essential to automate processes, improve productivity and ultimately reduce costs,” Ericsson said in a statement.

Diversification of B2B activities

Ericsson said the partnership should strengthen Orange Maroc’s positioning as an integrated ICT operator. The company aims to offer end-to-end solutions combining connectivity, cloud, edge computing and cybersecurity.

Like many African operators, the Moroccan subsidiary of Orange seeks to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional services.

For example, the company launched “Live Intelligence” in October 2025, a generative artificial intelligence platform designed for enterprises. The solution targets organizations of all sizes seeking to optimize operations, automate writing and content synthesis, improve information retrieval and integrate AI into workflows.

Beyond connectivity, Orange Maroc already provides a wide range of digital services through its Orange Business Maroc division. In the Internet of Things segment, the operator offers Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions that manage SIM cards embedded in connected devices.

The company also offers tools such as Smart Flotte for vehicle management, as well as Smart Fax and Smart Message for business communications.

In cybersecurity, the operator provides multiple solutions, including Business Internet Security to secure network access and protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks. It also offers Device Management Premium for secure device management and mini security operations centers to detect and respond to threats.

Moreover, Orange Maroc delivers cloud services through partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and Google, along with data hosting and on-demand server resources.

Growth opportunities in B2B telecom services

The expansion of these offerings aligns with a broader trend where digital technologies act as growth drivers for telecom operators. Traditional segments show signs of saturation, which pushes operators to diversify revenue streams.

The GSMA highlighted that rising enterprise demand for digital solutions creates significant opportunities. At the same time, low growth in average revenue per user (ARPU) forces operators to expand into new segments.

According to GSMA Intelligence, the global telecom B2B market exceeds $400 billion, representing about 35% of current mobile sector revenues. Furthermore, the “Mobile Economy Africa 2025” report by GSMA estimates that mobile telecommunications could contribute about $270 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030, or 7.4% of GDP.

“This expected growth results from productivity and efficiency gains linked to mobile services development and increasing adoption of digital technologies, particularly 5G, IoT and artificial intelligence,” the report said.

This article was initially published in Frenc by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum