Maroc Telecom and Inwi have announced an unprecedented partnership aimed at accelerating the deployment of fiber optics and 5G in Morocco. This paves the way for enhanced cooperation to support the Morocco Digital Strategy 2030 and propel the country into the digital age.
The agreement signed between the two operators includes the creation of two joint ventures, FiberCo and TowerCo, to pool their passive infrastructures and speed up the deployment of fiber optics and 5G across the Kingdom, according to the joint press release from both operators.
FiberCo will focus on the development of fiber optics, with a goal of reaching 3 million connections within five years. TowerCo, on the other hand, will be responsible for building and modernizing 6,000 telecom towers over a ten-year period to prepare the groundwork for 5G.
The operators emphasized that "this partnership is a direct response to the objectives outlined in the Morocco Digital Strategy 2030, which aims to transform the country into a cutting-edge digital platform."
With an initial investment of 4.4 billion MAD for the first phase of the project, these new infrastructures will not only ensure better mobile coverage but also promote access to high-speed Internet for all Moroccan citizens, including those living in underserved areas.
The agreements between Maroc Telecom and Inwi also reflect a shared will to move beyond their past dispute over infrastructure sharing, which led to legal proceedings that concluded with Maroc Telecom being ordered to pay 6.38 billion MAD in compensation to Inwi. The statement further explains:
"In this spirit, the parties will settle the matter by waiving all ongoing legal actions before the Court of Cassation and will reduce the compensation amount to 4.38 billion MAD, once the final and binding documentation relating to the joint ventures is signed."
A Positive Impact for Consumers
One of the main advantages of this partnership for consumers will be a significant improvement in mobile connectivity and access to high-speed Internet.
Thanks to FiberCo, Moroccan households will benefit from fiber optics, ensuring faster and more stable connections, while TowerCo will enable extended mobile coverage, especially for 5G.
It’s also important to note that these infrastructures will be accessible to all licensed telecom operators, which will help avoid duplicate investments and offer a wider range of services to the public at competitive prices.
In other words, although consumers are not directly involved in the agreement, they will benefit through better service quality, more choices, and more affordable prices.
