Business
5G-Fibre : The Big Deal Between Maroc Telecom and Inwi
The two operators are pooling their resources to accelerate the digitalization of the country. Two joint ventures will be created for the deployment of fiber optic and 5G. The cost of the operation amounts to 4.4 billion DH for the first phase.
Maroc Telecom (IAM) and Inwi (Wana Corporate) conclude a strategic agreement aimed at accelerating the deployment of fiber optic and 5G across the Kingdom.
This agreement will fully integrate into the Kingdom’s digital transformation dynamics and respond to national ambitions in terms of high-speed connectivity.
In this context, the two operators will commit to sharing their passive telecommunications infrastructure by creating two 50-50 joint ventures, namely a «FiberCo» dedicated to accelerating the deployment of fiber optic to subscribers across the Kingdom to provide them with high-speed internet access, thanks to the deployment and operation of the necessary passive infrastructure for fiber optic lines with a goal of one million connections within two years and three million by the end of five years; and a «TowerCo» focused on accelerating the deployment of the 5G network across the Kingdom to allow subscribers a connection with significantly improved speed, capacity, and quality, which will invest in building new towers or renovating existing ones, passive infrastructure for hosting mobile telephony equipment, with a goal of 2,000 towers within three years and 6,000 by the end of ten years.
This agreement has mobilized an investment of 4.4 billion DH for the first three-year phase.
These shared passive infrastructures will be open to any operator holding a license granting them the right to share passive infrastructure in strict compliance with current regulations.
The implementation of this partnership will remain subject to obtaining authorization from the ANRT under the control of concentration operations.
The agreements between Maroc Telecom and Inwi will also reflect a common will to overcome their past dispute regarding infrastructure sharing, which had led to a judicial procedure resulting in Maroc Telecom being condemned to pay 6.38 billion DH to Inwi as compensation, and to open a new era of constructive collaboration.
In this spirit, the parties will settle by renouncing all judicial appeals before the Court of Cassation and reducing the compensation amount to 4.38 billion DH once the definitive and binding documentation related to the JVs is signed.
Through this future partnership, Maroc Telecom and Inwi reaffirm their commitment to work together to strengthen the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure and actively contribute to the success of the country’s strategic projects.
This ambitious partnership will not only ensure cutting-edge connectivity for all Moroccan citizens and businesses but also position Morocco as a reference player in the telecommunications sector in Africa and worldwide.
