Editorial – Turning point | L’Economiste

For several years now, Morocco has been preparing for the arrival of 5G. Its actual rollout is scheduled for November 2026. With this in mind, one must lose no time, as the country’s digital sovereignty is at stake.

Addressing this issue early on will enable us to retain control over critical infrastructures, instead of being dependent on foreign players. This largely depends on the relevance of the dedicated roadmap.

5G will have a direct impact on the economic and social development process. At a time when Morocco is positioning itself on industry 4.0 and smart factories, this technology is a decisive element, particularly for automation, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT)… If we miss this turning point, it will weaken our attractiveness to foreign investors.

5G could also serve the goals of the social state (welfare state) , particularly in terms of access to education and healthcare, among other domains… Generalizing telemedicine solutions in landlocked areas, providing distance education, launching smart cities… all this will depend on the quality and level of deployment of this technology.

Reports such as McKinsey’s show that Morocco is well ahead in terms of the regulatory and infrastructure frameworks needed to support growth in the telecoms sector, but beware of the pitfalls that risk widening the digital divide. The challenge is to have everyone connected, without excluding or marginalizing territories. Successfully turning this corner depends on an inclusive and equitable rollout.

Because, beyond the competition between telecoms operators (who claim to be ready), 5G is not just a question of bandwidth, it is also a strategic pillar of socio-economic transformation, opening up new development prospects.