Booming since its launch by SpaceX, the Starlink satellite Internet service is generating growing expectations in Morocco. Promising to provide high-speed Internet access to the most remote areas, including the Atlas Mountains and vast desert regions, this project could disrupt the country's economy and social life by 2025. However, this dream of digital inclusion reveals challenges that match its ambitions.
Starlink relies on a network of thousands of satellites in low orbit, offering speeds of 100 to 500 Mbps with reduced latency. This performance is particularly suited to isolated areas where traditional Internet infrastructures remain inaccessible. In Morocco, these areas include the hilltop villages of the Atlas Mountains, the southern deserts, and some isolated rural areas. The objective is clear: connect the digitally forgotten to a globalized world.
However, despite the opening of a SpaceX branch in Casablanca, the service is not yet operational. The National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) emphasizes that no official authorization has yet been granted, and the infrastructure required for deployment remains in the preparation phase. Starlink's official availability map so far shows that Morocco is not yet served, although ambitions are tangible.
The arrival of Starlink in Morocco could profoundly transform the economic landscape. In rural areas, access to reliable Internet would promote teleworking, local entrepreneurship, and access to national and international markets. Farmers could adopt cutting-edge technologies like precision agriculture, and young entrepreneurs in remote areas would find new opportunities in e-commerce and service delivery.
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From a social perspective, Internet connectivity would reduce the isolation of rural communities. Access to online education, telemedical consultations, and digital administrative services could considerably improve the quality of life of the populations concerned. However, access to this service remains expensive: around 6,500 dirhams for the equipment and 1,100 dirhams per month for the subscription, an investment that is difficult to afford for low-income households.
A strategic issue for major events
In anticipation of the African Football Cup of Nations in December 2025 and the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-organize, the arrival of Starlink is of strategic importance. These major events will require optimal connectivity to meet the needs of tourists, media, and organizers. Starlink's ability to provide stable and fast internet to remote areas could complement existing infrastructure and ensure a high-level user experience.
Despite its promises, Starlink does not escape criticism. The high cost of the service constitutes a major obstacle to mass adoption, particularly for the most disadvantaged rural populations. Additionally, the proliferation of low-orbit satellites raises environmental concerns. Astronomers point out the interference caused by these satellites on the observation of the sky, while experts warn against the risk of overcrowding of the orbits.
Last Saturday, SpaceX further expanded its network by putting 30 new satellites into orbit. With a planned constellation of more than 12,000 satellites, Starlink's ultimate goal is to provide global Internet access, regardless of location. For Morocco, this project could become an essential lever for modernization and digital inclusion, provided that regulatory, financial and environmental obstacles are overcome.
In the meantime, hopes are high that 2025 will mark the start of a new era for Moroccan rural areas, placing them at the heart of the global digital revolution.
