Moroccan operators Maroc Telecom and Inwi have announced the signing of what is described as an expanded partnership agreement aimed at accelerating the deployment of fibre optic and 5G technologies across Morocco.
Under the agreement, the two companies will consolidate parts of their passive telecom infrastructure by establishing two joint ventures, each owned equally. The objective, the partners say, is to strengthen fibre optic expansion and support the development of 5G networks in the Kingdom.
The agreement includes the creation of two divisions. One is to be called FiberCo; it will aim to expand fibre optic networks to reach one million connections within two years and three million within five years. The other is TowerCo, which will oversee the construction of 2,000 new towers in three years and 6,000 in ten years to support the rollout of 5G.
This sort of transformation doesn’t come cheap, of course. The first phase of the project is valued at MAD4.4 billion (close to $457 million) over three years, pending approval by Morocco's National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT).
According to a report from the Emirates News Agency, Jassem Alzaabi, the Chairman of e&, the owner of Maroc Telecom, says that this strategic collaboration between Maroc Telecom and Inwi – along with joint investments in fibre and 5G infrastructure – marks a significant step toward greater market stability and strengthens Morocco’s position as an attractive destination for investment.
Reuters points out that there has been a legal dispute between the two operators, after market leader Maroc Telecom was asked by a court to pay MAD6.38 billion dirhams (a little over US$662 million) to Inwi for allegedly violating fair competition rules. This dispute now seems to have been resolved; Maroc Telecom has agreed to pay Inwi MAD4.38 billion dirhams (US$455 million) instead, in return for both operators abandoning legal appeals.
