Morocco’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) has approved a major partnership between two telecom giants, Itissalat Al-Maghrib (Maroc Telecom) and Wana Corporate (Inwi), authorizing the creation of two joint ventures focused on infrastructure sharing. The decision, notified on May 20 and published on June 18, marks a significant shift in Morocco’s telecom landscape toward greater cooperation and efficiency.
The first joint venture, FiberCo, with capital of MAD 3 billion (~$300 million), will deploy passive fiber optic infrastructure (FTTH) accessible to all operators. FiberCo aims to reach 1 million connections within two years and 3 million within five years, providing passive fiber access to end customers while preserving operators’ technical and commercial freedom.
The second joint venture, TowerCo, will manage radio equipment infrastructure—towers, sites, and antennas—with planned investments of MAD 1.4 billion (~$140 million). TowerCo targets constructing 2,000 new towers in three years and 6,000 over a decade. Both entities will be legally independent with separate resources.
This partnership reconciles a legal dispute between Maroc Telecom and Inwi, reducing compensation from MAD 6.38 billion to MAD 4.38 billion and dropping ongoing litigation.
ANRT’s approval stipulates that FiberCo and TowerCo operate with neutrality, transparency, and non-discrimination, preventing preferential access or pricing by parent companies. Strict governance and monitoring measures are mandated to safeguard fair competition and information separation.
The regulator believes FiberCo will enhance wholesale market competition, especially in FTTH, while TowerCo’s market dominance is carefully regulated to prevent anti-competitive effects.
During public consultation, stakeholders, including Médi Telecom (Orange Morocco), supported the initiative for accelerating digital transformation with suggestions to safeguard competition.
Current market shares show Maroc Telecom leading fixed internet and FTTH markets, while Inwi is a strong competitor. The joint ventures aim to rationalize infrastructure deployment, moving away from costly duplication and supporting Morocco’s digital transformation ahead of major events like AFCON 2025 and the 2030 World Cup.
ANRT will maintain enhanced oversight to ensure compliance and fair access, fostering a more efficient and competitive telecom ecosystem in Morocco.
