Maroc Telecom Reports 6.1% Customer Growth, Expands Internationally

Rabat – Maroc Telecom, Morocco’s leading telecom operator, announced a 6.1% increase in its customer base, reaching 79.7 million subscribers by the end of September 2024. This growth is primarily driven by the expansion of its postpaid mobile services and fiber-optic internet offerings, enhancing both domestic and international customer acquisition.

In Morocco, the telecom giant’s mobile customer base grew to nearly 19.9 million, reflecting strong demand for postpaid services, which experienced a 3.6% year-over-year increase. A press release from Maroc Telecom highlighted its ongoing success in capturing postpaid customers in an increasingly competitive telecom market.

The fixed-line services in Morocco also showed steady growth, with the fixed-line customer base reaching approximately 1.7 million. Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) subscriptions surged by an impressive 34% over the past year, largely offsetting a decline in traditional ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) subscriptions. This shift indicates a growing preference for high-speed broadband solutions among Moroccan consumers.

On the international front, Maroc Telecom, operating under the Moov Africa brand, reported a total of 56 million mobile subscribers across ten African countries. Its largest international markets include Burkina Faso, with nearly 12 million users; Côte d’Ivoire, with 11.7 million; and Mali, with 8.4 million. Smaller markets such as Togo, Mauritania, and Gabon also contributed to Moov Africa’s expansion, with subscriber growth in each country signaling robust demand throughout the region.

Fixed-line and broadband services outside Morocco continued to see increased adoption, with Mali accounting for 253,000 fixed-line subscribers, contributing significantly to the operator’s 400,000-strong fixed-line customer base across Africa. Fixed broadband also grew, totaling 255,000 customers, as demand for internet access accelerates in the region.

Maroc Telecom’s strategic focus on international growth appears to be paying off, with revenue from its international operations climbing to MAD 13.91 billion (approximately $1.4 billion) in the first nine months of 2024, driven by high data demand and diverse service offerings. Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire experienced particularly strong performances, underscoring the importance of these markets in Maroc Telecom’s long-term growth strategy.

Founded in 1998 and privatized in 2001, Maroc Telecom—also known by its acronym IAM—has consistently leveraged its expansion into African markets to bolster revenue. The company was listed on the Euronext and Casablanca stock exchanges in 2004 and has been majority-owned by Etisalat, the Emirati telecom giant, since 2014.

Today, Maroc Telecom generates approximately 40% of its revenue outside Morocco, highlighting the success of its internationalization strategy and its pivotal role in advancing digital connectivity across francophone Africa.

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