Telecoms: The race for submarine cables
On the eve of the implementation of 5G technology in Morocco, optimizing connectivity is fundamental. Henceforth, the priority is to cover and supply localities and territories not yet covered by 4G, white and gray areas, villages, the rural world, landlocked territories…
The challenge is to make the transition to widespread use of fiber optics and 4G, which is still limited to major conurbations. But beware: uneven deployment could accentuate the digital divide between urban and rural areas. That said, a strategic and coordinated approach is essential to meet these challenges.
Digital sovereignty
In the opinion of expert Ahmed Khaouja, “ the transition from 4G to 5G will be gradual. 4G will continue to provide basic connectivity in rural and less dense areas, while 5G will be deployed as a priority in high-demand environments. The two technologies will coexist for several years, adopting the non-autonomous solution (NSA), thus avoiding service discontinuity ”.
Another priority for operators is massive investment in submarine cables. Today, the trend in the telco sector is towards a cable race, driven by considerations of security, digital sovereignty and empowerment.
In this same context of digital transition, Morocco-to-Morocco cables are essential, but with locally produced content. This is fundamental ! Because to date, 99% of the data exchanged via cables is not produced in Morocco. Until now, data has been produced elsewhere, mainly in Europe and the United States, and repatriated via undersea pipes.
As a reminder, cables are critical infrastructures for global communications, including for Artificial Intelligence (AI) services, data… «At the Orange Group level, we are currently building a Moroccan-Moroccan cable to link Europe with Morocco via Nador. And we’re going to continue from Nador to Dakhla for a connection with the Orange Group’s “Djoliba” cable, which circles Africa», announced Hind Lfal, S.G. of Orange Maroc. Maroc Telecom is also investing in cables. Maroc Telecom has invested 150 million euros in the “West Africa” fiber optic submarine cable. With a total length of 8,600 kilometers for the southern segment and 814 km for the northern segment, this cable has an initial capacity of 20 Tbps, extendable to 40 Tbps.
Amin RBOUB
