July 2000

Morocco Update Memo

The following report outlines new developments in the past three months and the state of on-going developments.

1. Introduction and Summary

The telecommunications sector continues to the focal point of regulatory efforts in Morocco. Following the guidelines spelled out by the Prime Minister in a speech before Parliament in January 2000 ; the liberalization of this sector should be completed by the end of 2002.

2. Information Society Policy

2.1 Historical overview and general legislation

The board of administration of the ANRT has set out the following timetable for the development of the information infrastructure . :

• 2000: Several licenses for Shared Resources Radio electronic Networks (3RP)
• 2001 : A single license for the commercialisation of all non-voice services through out Morocco. To obtain this license the operator will be required to maintain a network guaranteeing a debit of at least 2 megabytes per second. The holder of this license will be able to offer voice services beginning January 1rst, 2002.
• 2001: A single interurban license for the commercialisation of all non-voice services. To obtain this license the operator will be required to maintain a network guaranteeing a debit of at least 2 megabytes per second. The holder of this license will be able to offer voice services beginning January 1rst, 2002
• 2001: A license by region for the commercialisation of all local non-voice services. To obtain this license the operator will be required to maintain a network guaranteeing a debit of at least 2 megabytes per second. The holder of this license will be able to offer voice services beginning January 1rst, 2002
• 2002: Two licenses for international telecommunications will permit the commercialisation of all services.

2.2 Telecommunications and Internet

Several licences for universal service will be offered in 2002 in function of market demand.

2.2.1 Interconnexion

The contention opposing Medi Telecom and the traditional operator Maroc Telecom was resolved by the ANRT.. The reclamation of Medi Telecom was based on two arguments :

• The price of interconnection
• The refusal of Maroc Telecom to run the technical tests drawn up by Medi Telecom.

2.2.2 Tarif policies

Below we can compare the differences in the packages proposed by the two GSM operators :

2.3 Electronic Commerce

The government, and in particular the Minister of General Affairs, has solicited a tender " un appel à expression d’intérêt " for the implementation of a electronic commerce site for cooperatives in the agricultural and trade sectors. The State’s role is this project will be limited to that of an intermediary between industrial partners.

2.4 Education and research

The Minister of National Education has just signed a partnership with Microsoft which aims to improve the information technology training of school ..

2.5 Transport

The Minister of Transportation is currently studying the implementation of an information system designed to automate the management of drivers licenses and car registration permits.

2.6 Health care

The Medinweb portal will be designed to organize and communicate medical information through out the country. It will contain a list of relevant Internet sites, a medical databank, and discussion forums on various health industry themes.

2.7 Competition

The government is currently preparing a "contract-programme" with private industry (national orientation framework) for information technology.

2.8 Copyright, intellectual property rights

A new law on intellectual propriety has just been voted by Parliament. This law replaces the dahir of July 29th 1970 which was the only existing legislation addressing intellectual propriety. This new law spells out the legal framework of "works of knowledge", and specifically references technological products like software.

2.9 Security

Morocco does not yet possess a legal framework concerning data transcription ( cryptology). None-the-less, the ANRT launched a tender in late January for a requirement study (research, development, implementation) in this area within a global budget of 1,5 million DH ( 150000$).

2.10 Freedom of expression and information as far as the distribution via electronic networks is concerned

"Morocco is one of the few Mediterranean countries not to regulate the use of information systems, notably the internet, in either the transmission or the reception of data", confirmed the Minister of Communication, Mr. Mohamed Larbi Messari, during his introductory speech March 29th on the National Internet Day.

3. Market: Privatisation, foreign investment, mergers, acquisitions, call for tenders,…

The offer of a thirty-five percent part in the traditional telecom operator, Maroc Telecom, has been postponed until September. The stock is estimated to be worth 2,85 billion DH. There are currently three potential partners that have declared interest (SBC,Vivendi, France Telecom).