Although progress has been made, in particular with the generalization of the deployment of 4G – soon 5G – and optical fiber, additional investments are necessary to meet event requirements such as CAN 2025 or the 2030 World Cup. The issue is enormous. In stadiums and outside, connectivity plays a key role in the experience of spectators, live broadcast and international influence of the country. To talk about it, the Horizon Press group organized a dedicated round table. Here are the main conclusions.
Essential both for broadcasting and sharing and for the experience of spectators, connectivity is one of the priority axes on which the success of major sporting events is based, and not only, that Morocco is preparing to organize, including the African Cup of Nations 2025 and the 2030 World Cup.
The subject is little or not mentioned. And yet, more than a necessity, it is a requirement. Hence the relevance of the round table organized by the Horizon Press group within the framework of its cycle The Circle of Eco Inspirations.
Hosted by Hicham Bennani, Deputy Managing Director in charge of the group’s editorial center, the debate has seen the leading operators and actors: Mohamed Bennis, B2B Sales Director in Orange Maroc, Mehdi Sekkouri Alaoui, CEO of Stadia and President of the Moroccan Federation of Sports Professionals, Zaki Lahbabi, Director of TSM, And Taoufik Radi Benjelloun, Founder and CEO of Play Management Group. All are unanimous: if Morocco has taken many steps, a lot to do.
“Events like the CAN or the World Cup are not only won in the field, but also on connectivity,” says Hicham Bennani.
That is to say. Morocco, with its Morocco Digital 2030 strategy, deploys increasingly efficient telecoms infrastructure to meet the requirements of major sporting events such as CAN or the World Cup. Connectivity requires more investments, in stages and, also and above all, outside. More than just a technical infrastructure, connectivity becomes an image, performance and experience lever for spectators, sports professionals and international broadcasters.
A technological leap under
“Morocco has made significant progress since the liberalization of the telecoms market in the early 2000s,” said Mohamed Bennis, the one to whom businesses and administrations are to digitize, develop and transform.
The country now benefits from national 4G coverage, including in rural or remote areas thanks to universal coverage mechanisms. If the fixed network shows a slight delay in comparison with European standards, fiber optics is gaining ground, in particular via FTTH networks (Fiber to the Home).
“Currently, 11% of households are covered in FTTH fiber. The objective of the Morocco Digital 2030 strategy is to reach 5.5 million high speed connected households, ”says Bennis.
An advance that will also benefit strategic places such as stadiums, called to play a central role in the organization of major sporting events. To the democratization of optical fiber will be added in this sense the opening of 5G in the kingdom. Technology, although not yet launched officially, arouses many expectations.
“Our networks are ready to be upgraded. We await the call for tenders of the ANRT, ”says Mohamed Bennis. This advance could materialize before CAN 2025.
Specific requirements
It is not a choice. “When a country is candidates to host an event such as the CAN or the World Cup, it must meet a very strict specifications, especially in terms of connectivity,” explains Mehdi Sekkouri Alaoui, CEO of Stadia and President of the Moroccan Federation of Sports Professionals.
FIFA, for example, analyzes the overall state of the country’s connectivity as well as the devices provided for in sports. Connectivity does not only concern TV broadcasting or the needs of journalists, photographers, social networks, live streamings. She also participates, and greatly, in the very experience of spectators.
“This presupposes an ultra-performance network, adapted to very intense flows,” adds Sekkouri Alaoui.
“The entire customer experience in stages will be reviewed systemically. We are talking about connected ticketing, mobile applications to follow the stats live, order food or review the best actions. ” One of the major challenges remains the management of traffic peaks during the matches.
Mohamed Bennis insists on the need for fine planning. “It is not enough to install more antennas or fiber. You have to anticipate uses, deploy real-time monitoring systems, reallocate the capacity according to the needs and events of the match, “he said. Connectivity is also a coordination matter. In order for operators to intervene effectively, access to the public domain is crucial.
“It is a question of collective will and regulatory facility,” says Bennis.
More than a question of image
For Zaki Lahbabi, connectivity is the invisible base of media radiation. “It is thanks to the telecoms networks that the event can be lived live by the greatest number, in Morocco and internationally. It is also a powerful marketing tool ”.
Lahbabi takes the example of the sand marathon, “an event in the desert, but thanks to connectivity, it is broadcast live, affecting a global audience”.
Morocco wants to show that it is ready, not only to host major sporting events, but also to make them shine in the all-in-numeric. Connectivity, at the heart of technical, logistical and marketing devices, is now present as a real issue of sovereignty, competitiveness and radiation. The key to success lies in good planning, the communication of needs and the guarantee that the latter will be satisfied within the time limits.
“When a fan arrives from abroad to attend the World Cup, he must be able to connect upon his arrival at the airport and benefit from a quality international roaming service. Thereafter, he must be able to move easily to his hotel, where connectivity in the rooms must be optimal. Connectivity also extends to means of transport, such as TGV or trains. The stadium is coming to the end, ”explains Mohamed Bennis for whom connectivity is a whole. And that’s a whole program.
Mohamed Bennis
B2B Sales Director in Orange Maroc
“The stages are not isolated. They are part of an urban ecosystem that requires robust infrastructure. To support major sporting events, it is essential to strengthen these infrastructure ”.
Mehdi Sekkouri Alaoui
President of the Moroccan Federation of Sports Professionals
“The requirements of instances such as FIFA in terms of connectivity are increasingly strict. Today, it is essential to have hyper-connectivity to broadcast live, especially for events such as the World Cup, where technologies such as streaming and live have become essential ”.
Zaki Lahbabi
CEO of TSM
“Telecoms are essential to provide a high -level experience, both for spectators on site and for those who follow the event at a distance”.
Ilyas Bellarb / Eco inspirations
