Morocco is accelerating the pace to deploy the 5th generation of high-speed mobile network (5G). During an oral questions session in the House of Representatives, held on December 23, 2024, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, declared that 5G will be introduced from this year in Morocco, before the holding of CAN 2025.
The government’s objective is to then move to coverage of 25% of the population by 2026, before reaching a percentage of 70% by 2030, via a total deployment in the cities which will host football matches. the World Cup.
Accelerate licensing
However, such a timetable seems difficult to respect: the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) has not yet launched the call for tenders for the allocation of 5G licenses to operators, who will subsequently have to install the equipment inherent to this technology.
Difficult, but possible, essentially believes Abdelouahed Jraifi, telecoms expert. “The objective, although ambitious, remains achievable, provided that the regulator accelerates the allocation of licenses by adopting a clear, simplified approach adapted to the needs of operators in terms of frequencies“, he assures.
And to argue: “Equipment manufacturers and operators, thanks to their proven expertise in the rapid deployment of large-scale networks, have the necessary assets to meet this challenge. By targeting strategic areas as a priority, such as CAN stadiums and large cities, it would be possible to ensure minimum functional coverage from 2025.»
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However, certain prerequisites are necessary to achieve this objective, specifies our interlocutor, who first cites the availability of “spectral resources” (the different frequencies used for the transmission of sound, data and video). “These frequencies constitute a key element of the telecoms ecosystem, comparable to soil for agriculture or water for a city. Without them, it is impossible to develop infrastructure or guarantee reliable connectivity», he sketches.
Generalize optical fiber
Then, it will be necessary to generalize optical fiber throughout the national territory. “Currently underway, the widespread use of optical fiber is essential to meet the growing demand for digital services. This trend, driven by the rise of digitalization and the need for high-quality connectivity, can become an accelerator for the deployment of 5G», soutient Abdelouahed Jaraifi.
Explanation: optical fiber is necessary to connect the “small cells» (5G base stations) to data processing centers. “It makes it possible to achieve very high throughputs and very low latencies, crucial for applications such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), autonomous vehicles or telemedicine.», he indicates, specifying that this technology, “far from being an obstacle, could become a strategic asset by supporting the transport networks (backhaul) necessary for 5G».
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Operators must also invest heavily in new infrastructure. “5G, as a disruptive technology, relies on a set of advanced techniques aimed at delivering faster and more reliable connectivity. Among these, MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) and Massive MIMO, technologies that exploit several antennas to send and receive signals simultaneously, which make it possible to increase the capacity and efficiency of the network», explains the expert.
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in network management also helps optimize quality of service in real time by adapting network resources according to fluctuations in demand. “By combining these technologies, 5G delivers ultra-fast and flexible connectivity, while paving the way for innovative new applications across diverse industries, from the Internet of Things to digital business transformation“, he emphasizes.
A major project for the ANRT
In this immense project, in addition to the allocation of licenses, the ANRT will play a leading role in the rearrangement of frequencies. Indeed, 5G is the first technology to use the same types of frequencies (low, medium and high) as well as in strategic sectors such as defense, aviation, broadcasting and even telecommunications.
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Achieving this complex balance, to say the least, so that their bands are not affected, is no easy task. Morocco could draw inspiration from models already deployed in several developed countries to meet this challenge. “In the United States, for example, the C band (3.7-4.2 gigahertz (GHz) was released for 5G after compensation to satellite operators, illustrating proactive management of spectrum resources. In Europe, the 700 megahertz (MHz) band was reallocated to 5G after a coordinated switchover of terrestrial television services, freeing up significant spectrum while ensuring the continuity of existing services», detail Abdelouahed Jaraifi.
The Kingdom could also benchmark the Kenyan model. This East African country has opted for refarming, “a technique which consists of reusing old frequencies, such as those of 2G, to adapt them to new technologies such as 4G and 5G. This redevelopment facilitated the gradual deployment of these two broadband technologies“, he continues.
