🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco's high-speed internet reaches nearly all rural areas
via Le Matin1 min read
Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, announced that the first phase of Morocco's National High and Very High Speed Broadband Development Plan has been completed. This phase covered over 10,690 out of 10,740 zones with 2G, 3G, and 4G telecommunication services. The second phase of the plan has been launched, aiming to cover and improve services for 2,000 new rural areas by 2026. These areas were identified through a participatory approach involving local authorities, parliamentarians, and local elected officials. Satellite technologies VSAT are being used in areas difficult to serve by terrestrial networks, with each customer eligible for 2,500 dirhams in financial support per subscription, for up to 4,000 beneficiaries annually. Additionally, 5G has been launched in over 50 cities, serving approximately 7 million subscribers. Operators have committed to investments exceeding 80 billion dirhams by 2035 to expand this service, aiming to cover 45% of the population by 2026 and 85% by 2030. Efforts are also underway to implement the national fiber optic plan, which seeks to equip 5.6 million homes by 2030 by strengthening infrastructure sharing among operators and mandating fiber optic equipment in new subdivisions and infrastructure.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadRecent cyberattacks in Morocco highlight a concerning rise in cybercrime, with incidents targeting institutions like CNOPS and OFPPT revealing increasing data vulnerability. This surge in attacks is accompanied by a proliferation of scams, particularly through fraudulent SMS messages. Professor Youssef Bentaleb, president of the Moroccan Center for Polytechnic Research and Innovation and director of Espace Maroc Cyberconfiance, has warned about the strategic risks posed by this vulnerability, advocating for a national response based on local solutions and robust digital sovereignty.
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Mr. Toufiq announced that 34,000 individuals will benefit from the Hajj for the 1447H season. In response to an oral question in the House of Representatives regarding "improving Hajj services and ensuring optimal organization of this operation," posed by the Authenticity and Modernity group, Mr. Toufiq stated that the cost of Hajj under the official organization has been set at 63,121 dirhams, a decrease of 3,000 dirhams compared to the previous year. Measures taken include strengthening coordination with various departments, institutions, and bodies that are members of the Royal Commission in charge of the pilgrimage, each within its area of competence. These measures also include organizing training and supervision sessions for pilgrims, intensifying awareness programs through national media and in mosques, and developing guidance manuals covering the different stages of Hajj. He also highlighted the establishment of lists of supervisors and escorts, with one supervisor for every 49 pilgrims, as well as the development of a pilgrim transportation program according to a precise schedule. Pilgrims will also have a digital card containing all necessary information throughout the Hajj period. Regarding coordination with the competent authorities in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Toufiq noted that a protocol was concluded for this purpose on the sidelines of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition. He remarked that Saudi authorities awarded the Moroccan mission a distinction l
A national survey on violence against children has been launched in partnership with the National Observatory for Human Development ONDH, the High Commission for Planning HCP, the National Observatory for Children's Rights ONDE, and the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF. The survey aims to measure the extent of various forms of violence and their impact on children's physical and psychological health. It also seeks to identify determinants of violence based on gender and age, analyze new forms of violence, and pinpoint the contexts in which they occur, including within the family, school, public spaces, and the digital environment. The study will analyze economic, social, psychological, and educational vulnerability factors, assess the effects of violence on children's health, education, and well-being, and formulate recommendations to guide public policies and prevention and care programs. Naïma Ben Yahia, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family, stated that this initiative is based on producing reliable data, which is essential for developing and evaluating public policies. Othmane Gair, President of the ONDH, highlighted that the survey is a strategic tool for obtaining reliable scientific data and a multidimensional diagnosis to support decision-making and improve public policy effectiveness. Ayache Khellaf, Secretary General of the HCP, emphasized the importance of precise and updated data for national policies, with his institution contributing to data