(Ecofin Agency) - • Morocco plans to roll out 5G to a quarter of its population by the end of 2025 and reach 70% coverage by 2030
• The launch will begin in November 2025, just ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, with a focus on cities and key economic zones
• Telecom giants Maroc Telecom and Inwi are teaming up to expand fiber and mobile tower infrastructure under a $475 million investment plan

The government in Morocco wants 25% of the population to have access to 5G by the end of 2025, with a longer-term goal of reaching 70% by 2030. These targets are part of the national digital strategy, known as "Morocco Digital 2030."

The rollout is scheduled to start in November 2025, right before the country hosts the Africa Cup of Nations, a flagship event that draws millions of visitors from across the continent. The timing is no coincidence. With the eyes of Africa on Morocco, the government is pushing for rapid progress.

According to the national telecom regulator, ANRT, the first areas to benefit will be large cities, industrial zones, tech parks, and innovation hubs. These places are expected to drive demand and show quick returns on investment.

Telecom operators will need to meet new regulatory standards, which are currently being finalized by the ANRT. The new rules will include clear targets for coverage and quality of service, ensuring that 5G does not just arrive—it works well.

To help meet these goals, Maroc Telecom and Inwi announced in March 2025 the creation of two joint ventures. One, called FiberCo, will focus on rolling out fiber-optic connections—one million in the next two years and three million within five years. The other, TowerCo, will build mobile towers—2,000 in three years and 6,000 by 2035.

This infrastructure push fits into the broader Morocco Digital 2030 plan, which promotes sharing networks and co-investing in major projects.

The first phase of the rollout will cost around 4.4 billion dirhams, or roughly $475 million. Meanwhile, Orange Maroc may choose a different approach, either going it alone or signing infrastructure-sharing deals with the other two operators.

As of December 2024, Morocco had 37.44 million mobile internet users, showing the size of the market set to benefit from this next step in connectivity.