1.  What is the state of 5G deployment in your country, and specifically of the deployment of standalone (SA) 5G networks?
  2.  What is being done to ensure that a wide range of operators and industrial companies, from small to large, have access to frequencies? 
  3.  What public tenders have awarded spectrum licences ?
    1. What were the criteria for awarding each of the tenders?
    2. What are the conditions of the spectrum licence?
    3. What is the price and how is it calculated ?
    4. Have there been any issues with the implementation of the 5G projects. Have there been any decisions regarding non-compliance with 5G concession obligations?
  4.  Is there a long-term spectrum plan or announcements for future tenders?
  5. If specific rules are drafted, what do they say?
  7. What are or will be the rules for granting competitors access to new 5G networks once they are deployed?
  8.  What comments have been made regarding 5G cybersecurity and possible use of Chinese technology, including regulation?   
  9.  Is there any project regarding 6G in your jurisdiction?

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Morocco
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1. What is the state of 5G deployment in your country, and specifically of the deployment of standalone (SA) 5G networks?

The general guidelines note for the development of the telecom sector, adopted by the National Agency for Telecommunications Regulation (ANRT) in 2019, specified conditions for the launch of 5G in Morocco in 2023. Morocco is still in the 5G evaluation, testing and trial stage, leaving  the launch postponed to a later date.

  • November 2024 update: On September 25th, 2024, the former Minister of Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, as part of the Morocco Digital 2030 strategy (Maroc Digital 2030 in French) declares the setting of a timeline for 5G introduction  to cover 25% of the national territory by 2026 and 70% of the national territory by 2030.
  • November 2024 update: No statement has been made to date regarding deployment of SA 5G networks as this implies a huge investment compared with the NSA (Non Standalone (NSA) 5G network.  

2. What is being done to ensure that a wide range of operators and industrial companies, from small to large, have access to frequencies? 

Currently, the major Moroccan corporations (ONCF, OCP, transport companies, MANAGEM, Marsa Maroc, airports) have been invited to conduct studies to set up use cases. They have been asked how they will implement this advanced technology in well-defined use cases to improve work-performance quality. 

  • November 2024 update: As part of the Morocco Digital 2030 strategy, it has been stated that works will be implemented to reconfigure the frequency spectrum, to liberalize the bands used for the 5G and to connect base transceiver station ) sites with fibre optic connections. 

3. What public tenders have awarded spectrum licences ?

      N/A

3.1 What were the criteria for awarding each of the tenders?

  N/A

3.2 What are the conditions of the spectrum licence?

  N/A

3.3 What is the price and how is it calculated ?

N/A

3.4 Have there been any issues with the implementation of the 5G projects. Have there been any decisions regarding non-compliance with 5G concession obligations?

N/A 

4. Is there a long-term spectrum plan or announcements for future tenders?

Studies are currently being conducted to propose the conditions and modalities for operating 5G networks in the Kingdom in order to identify and prepare the target frequency spectrum rearrangement schemes. As 4G took 10 years, the construction of the 5G network in Morocco  for a wide deployment throughout the country could take years.

  • November 2024 update: Following Morocco’s selection as one of the hosting countries of the World Cup 2030, the process of launching the implementation of 5G has been expedited and the operators are awaiting ANRT issuance of specifications in order to submit proposals.
  • November 2024 update: In fact, the ANRT is expediting its tenders preparations for the purpose of allocating 5G licences throughout in-depth consultations with worldwide operators such as. Nokia, Huawei, Ericsson and ZTE.
  • November 2024 update: The opening of the tenders related to the allocation of 5G licences is expected by Q1  2025 whereas the launch of the first  5G network activations in  developed cities of Morocco is expected roughly twelve (12) months following the opening of tenders. 

5. If specific rules are drafted, what do they say?

No rules have been published, and no tender has been opened. 

6. Are 5G network sharing or spectrum sharing agreements in place? Is there any focused 5G network or spectrum sharing regulation?

N/A

7. What are or will be the rules for granting competitors access to new 5G networks once they are deployed?

 No 5G network sharing agreement is in place yet.

  • November 2024 update: The ANRT intends as part of the implementation process of the 5G, to adopt a Neutral Host model pursuant to which an operator,  namely the neutral host, will implement the network’s infrastructure on a site (e.g. in a stadium) and then the neutral host will enter into agreements with each operator in the telecom sector in Morocco (Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and Inwi). Each telecom operator will pay usage fees to the neutral host (the Neutral Host Model). 
  • November 2024 update:  The Neutral Host Model’s objective is to reduce excessive costs relating to 5G investment as part of the strategy of shared use of network infrastructure that promotes co-investment among operators.

8. What comments have been made regarding 5G cybersecurity and possible use of Chinese technology, including regulation?   

The Moroccan government has not given any information about 5G cybersecurity, it will only be launched once the regulator decides to allocate licenses. 

9. Is there any project regarding 6G in your jurisdiction?

N/A