Morocco stands out as a strategic pillar of digital technologies in Africa, attracting a growing number of significant investment in cloud giants. This is evidenced by the arrival of operators like Oracle, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or OVHCLOUD who identified Morocco as a promising market, capable of offering strategic opportunities to extend their operations and consolidate their anchoring on the continent.
It must be said that the kingdom is based on a strategic approach and solid institutional support to accelerate its digital transformation. Evidence of national programs, including the “Morocco Digital 2030” strategy, or “Smart Morocco”, which emphasize digital transformation. What digitize the economy, promote technological innovation and, above all, position the kingdom as a digital regional hub in full expansion, at the crossroads of local ambitions and global opportunities.
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The recent installation of an Oracle R&D center in Casablanca, the launch of the first zone “AWS Wavelength in Africa” by AWS and Orange Morocco in Casablanca, as well as the implementation of the “OVHCLOUD local area in Rabat”, illustrate this dynamic perfectly. Investments that have the merit of strengthening the local digital infrastructure and, above all, to pave the way for fruitful collaborations with Moroccan companies, innovative startups, including with the public sector. Also, they allow Moroccan and African companies to benefit from high -performance cloud services, data sovereignty, while encouraging the skills of local talents in advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and Big Data. In addition, the deployment of 5G, planned this year in the kingdom this year, promises to transform many sectors thanks to its ultra-fast flows and low latency, suddenly facilitating the development of innovative applications to the rank of which telemedicine, connected vehicles, even the Internet of Things. Precisely, this technological advance will also be a boon for global operators and local players, by offering them access to optimized connectivity, essential for creating and testing advanced solutions, stimulating their growth and strengthening their competitiveness on international markets.
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The fact remains that these positive benefits extend beyond direct collaborations, also having a structuring effect on the Moroccan digital ecosystem as a whole. And for good reason; They promote the creation of qualified jobs, the transfer of know-how and the emergence of opportunities for local startups. In addition, they also strengthen the country’s technological infrastructure, allowing many economic sectors, including finance, agriculture, health, etc.) to accelerate their digitalization and remain competitive.
Oracle accelerates its expansion in Morocco
Oracle continues its investments in Morocco to position the country as a technological hub in Africa. To do this, the specialized in the development of Cloud software and services, has expanded its R&D center to Casablanca, recruiting more than 1,000 cloud, AI and cybersecurity experts. An initiative which aims, according to the operator, to promote innovation and local skills. Not to mention that it also provides a distribution of jobs outside the big cities, with offices in Agadir and in the north of the kingdom. With this ambitious strategy, Oracle consolidates its position in Morocco while contributing to its digital transformation and strengthening its role as technological leader in Africa. The kingdom, on the other hand, benefits from a significant impulse to continue to establish itself as a key player in the world technological ecosystem.
Casablanca, strategic gateway to AWS in Africa
Amazon Web Services (AWS), in collaboration with Orange Maroc, launched last January the first “AWS Wavelength” area in Africa, located in Casablanca. A partnership that guarantees local cloud infrastructure with low latency, but also data territoriality, in addition to compliance with Moroccan regulations. Also, local businesses benefit from innovative cloud solutions, particularly suitable for sectors requiring high responsiveness such as finance, industrial IoT and immersive technologies.
It should be noted that this project includes the marketing of AWS services by Orange Maroc, offering access to more than 220 AWS products with local invoicing and technical support based in Morocco. Orange Maroc also uses this infrastructure to accelerate its digital transformation. The fact remains that the choice of Morocco for “AWS Wavelength” is based on its strategic potential in North Africa and the Middle East. This initiative aligns with the national strategy of Morocco Digital 2030, by strengthening the adoption of the cloud and by stimulating technological innovation.
OVHCloud amplifies its presence in Africa with its first premises zone
OVHCLOUD, in partnership with Orange Maroc, intends to consolidate the role of Morocco as a major technological hub in Africa. It was in May 2024 that the operator specializing in Cloud Computing and Web accommodation, inaugurated its first “local zone” in Africa, located in Rabat, in partnership with Morocco Datacenter. A cloud infrastructure which guarantees low latency and data sovereignty, thus meeting the needs of local and international businesses. With already more than 6,000 customers in Morocco, OVHCLOUD does not intend to stop there. Indeed, the company is weaving its canvas in Africa with the opening of new “local zones” in Kenya, Tunisia and South Africa. These initiatives are part of a global plan aimed at deploying 150 “local zones” around the world by 2026, thus consolidating its presence on the African continent. According to the OVHCLOUD staff, this strategic partnership with Orange Maroc and Maroc Datacenter illustrates its commitment to provide confidence cloud solutions, while supporting digital transformation and technological innovation in Morocco and beyond.
