Morocco’s Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, has revealed the country’s plans to roll out transformative 5G internet as part of its preparations to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to the House of Representatives, Seghrouchni outlined the government’s connectivity vision, which includes expanding 5G coverage to 25% of the population by 2026 and 70% by 2030. Key cities such as Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Tangier, which will host World Cup matches, will receive full 5G coverage to ensure seamless high-speed internet access for residents and visitors.
This 5G expansion is part of Morocco’s broader National Plan for High-Speed and Very High-Speed Internet Development. The country’s efforts are structured into two phases, with the first phase running from 2018 to 2024. This phase has already enabled second-, third-, and fourth-generation telecom services to reach over 10,640 areas, achieving a 99% penetration rate. Due to the geographical challenges of certain remote areas, satellite technology will be used to connect the remaining regions.
In the second phase, which will be completed by 2026, satellite technology will expand 5G coverage to 1,800 rural areas. As part of this initiative, residents in areas without terrestrial coverage will receive financial aid of up to MAD 2,500 (approximately USD 243) per subscription, benefiting up to 4,000 users annually.
Furthermore, by 2026, the government plans to equip 6,300 public administrative sites with fiber-optic technology. By 2030, the initiative will expand fiber-optic access to 5.6 million homes, greatly enhancing the availability of digital services across the country.
Seghrouchni underscored the importance of these efforts in advancing Morocco’s telecommunications infrastructure, noting that the government allocated over MAD 8.4 billion (USD 834.8 million) in 2023 to support telecommunications providers and accelerate the nation’s digital transformation.
