Communication Technologies and Standards in Morocco
Updated: October 2026
Morocco's telecommunications infrastructure is built on established international standards, ensuring compatibility with the vast majority of mobile devices manufactured for the European, Middle Eastern, and African markets.
2G — GSM
Second-generation networks were deployed in Morocco in the mid-1990s and remain the foundation of the country's mobile infrastructure. The GSM standard operates on two frequency bands:
| Band | Frequencies | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| GSM 900 | 890–960 MHz | Primary band providing wide territorial coverage thanks to good signal penetration |
| GSM 1800 | 1710–1880 MHz | Supplementary band for increased capacity in urban zones |
GSM networks provide voice communication and SMS transmission across the entire territory of Morocco, including remote areas of the Atlas Mountains and the edges of the Sahara. GPRS and EDGE technologies, layered over GSM, enable basic data transmission, though speeds are limited to a few hundred kilobits per second.
3G — UMTS / HSPA+
Third-generation mobile networks based on the UMTS standard were launched in Morocco in 2007. 3G networks operate on the 2100 MHz band (Band 1), the global standard band for UMTS.
Technology evolved in stages:
- UMTS (R99) — initial deployment, speeds up to 384 Kbit/s.
- HSDPA — improved downlink channel, speeds up to 14.4 Mbit/s.
- HSPA+ — further improvement, theoretical download speed up to 42 Mbit/s.
Today, 3G networks cover most of Morocco's populated territory. They remain an important fallback layer in areas where 4G signal is unavailable or unstable. Operators are gradually reallocating 3G spectrum in favour of more efficient 4G technologies.
4G — LTE / LTE-Advanced
Commercial fourth-generation networks launched in Morocco in April 2015. All three operators received licences to use multiple LTE frequency bands:
| Band | 3GPP Band | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| 800 MHz | Band 20 | Low-frequency band with excellent building penetration and wide base station range. Used for suburban and rural coverage. |
| 1800 MHz | Band 3 | Mid-range band balancing capacity and coverage. Main LTE working frequency in urban areas. |
| 2600 MHz | Band 7 | High-frequency band with maximum capacity but limited range. Used in city centres and crowded locations. |
Operators actively use Carrier Aggregation (CA), combining two or three bands to increase data speeds. As a result, real-world mobile internet speeds in major cities can reach 100–150 Mbit/s.
LTE-Advanced Pro (4.5G) technology is being deployed by operators to boost peak speeds and reduce latency. It serves as a transitional step toward full 5G and is already available in selected areas of Casablanca and Rabat.
5G — Current Status and Prospects
Fifth-generation network deployment in Morocco is at an early stage. The ANRT regulator has allocated frequency resources for 5G and conducted tender procedures. Key bands under consideration for 5G in Morocco:
- 3.5 GHz (n78) — primary band for urban 5G coverage, balancing capacity and service area.
- 700 MHz (n28) — low-frequency band for extensive territorial coverage in rural and suburban areas.
- 26 GHz (n258) — millimetre-wave band for ultra-high speeds in confined zones (stadiums, transport hubs, business districts).
5G pilot projects are underway in Casablanca's business districts and Rabat's administrative centre. Mass commercial rollout is expected progressively, starting with the largest cities and gradually extending to regional centres.
International Roaming
Morocco is integrated into the global international roaming system. All three operators have roaming agreements with hundreds of operators worldwide, enabling foreign visitors to use their mobile devices.
How Roaming Works in Morocco
Upon entering the country, a mobile device automatically registers on one of the Moroccan operators' networks, provided the subscriber's home operator has a corresponding roaming agreement. Network selection occurs automatically but can be changed manually in device settings.
Since Morocco uses European GSM/UMTS/LTE standards, devices purchased in Europe, the Middle East, and most Asian countries are fully compatible with Moroccan networks. Devices designed exclusively for the CDMA standard (certain models for the US market) may not work.
Technical Roaming Details
- 2G (GSM) roaming is supported by all operators and available across virtually the entire territory.
- 3G (UMTS) roaming works in major cities and along highways.
- 4G (LTE) roaming is available subject to agreement between the home and Moroccan operators; not all operators offer LTE roaming.
- VoLTE roaming (voice over LTE) is supported by a limited number of operator pairs.
For proper roaming operation, it is recommended to enable "Data Roaming" in device settings and verify that APN settings are configured automatically. Network selection should preferably be left on automatic — manual selection may lead to connection to a network without a roaming agreement.
Morocco Frequency Map
| Generation | Standard | Frequencies | 3GPP Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | GSM | 900 MHz | — |
| 2G | GSM | 1800 MHz | — |
| 3G | UMTS / HSPA+ | 2100 MHz | Band 1 |
| 4G | LTE | 800 MHz | Band 20 |
| 4G | LTE | 1800 MHz | Band 3 |
| 4G | LTE | 2600 MHz | Band 7 |
| 5G | NR | 3500 MHz | n78 |
| 5G | NR | 700 MHz | n28 |