A masterstroke in the making: The ANRT may be on the verge of revolutionizing Morocco’s telecommunications sector. In utmost discretion, the regulatory authority is currently assessing the feasibility of granting authorizations as early as 2025 to two satellite internet giants: Starlink and OneWeb.
This initiative aims to provide high-speed satellite internet access in remote areas of the Kingdom, which would transform the digital landscape and mark a historic turning point for the country’s connectivity. The project’s significance is further underscored by Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup.
“If these authorizations are granted, internet access would be revolutionized, especially in the country’s rural and remote areas. These services, offering high-speed connectivity where terrestrial infrastructure is limited, would bridge the digital divide by providing citizens and businesses in these regions with the same connectivity opportunities as urban areas,” said a source close to the matter, who requested anonymity.
The importance of digital sovereignty
Starlink and OneWeb offer speeds ranging from 50 to 150 Mbps, surpassing the current offerings of Maroc Telecom, Orange, and Inwi outside residential and urban areas. Additionally, satellite services provide greater resilience during outages of terrestrial infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted emergency communications. Notably, Starlink was deployed during the Al Haouz earthquake in 2023.
The ANRT’s initiative coincides with the signing of an agreement between Moroccan operator Panafsat and Thales Alenia Space during Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit. This partnership aims to develop a Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) communication system to deliver high-speed internet access across 26 African countries.
Thales Alenia Space also supports Eutelsat in its expansion into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) through its satellite network. In September 2023, Eutelsat solidified its position by acquiring OneWeb, becoming the first operator to combine a LEO constellation with a geostationary network, optimizing global internet coverage.
Beyond the deployment of satellite operators, the ANRT, led by the discreet Az-El-Arabe Hassibi, is also working on two other major projects for 2025: the 5G tender process and the authorization of so-called “Neutral Host” networks.
Written in French by Rachid Jankari, edited in English by Eric Nielson
