Morocco is to embark on a ten-year national plan to develop its broadband sector, reports local news source Magharebia. The National Telecommunications Regulation Agency (ANRT) says that the plan, which has been approved by the government, will give the country’s entire population access to fixed or mobile broadband by 2022.
The first phase of the project will see the rollout of 4G mobile technologies from 2014 onwards and increased spectrum made available for Wi-Fi. At the same time, the ANRT plans to launch pilot projects to deploy fibre-optic cables to selected housing estates away from the main urban areas.
The second phase will see service quality and connectivity between networks in different areas improved, as well as investigation into the use of alternative broadband technologies in order to boost coverage. ‘The implementation of this nationwide plan will include legal and regulatory measures to encourage the sharing of infrastructures and pooling of investment,’ said ANRT chief Azzeddine El Mountassir Billah.
The watchdog also says it plans to update Law No. 24-96 on postal services and telecoms, as well as decrees concerning the use of networks and antitrust litigation.
Morocco, Agence Nationale de Reglementation de Telecom (ANRT), Broadband
