Telecoms: The real cost of 5G

Simultaneous launch of 5G by the three telecom carriers in Morocco. As we exclusively announced in L’Economiste, the official commercial launch of 5G was to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Green March.

Indeed, in the early hours of Friday, November 7, at midnight, Maroc Telecom, Orange, and Inwi officially and simultaneously rolled out the 5th generation network.
Through this deployment, eagerly awaited by individuals, businesses, and administrative institutions, the three phone carriers promise «high definition, without latency or interruptions.» Following this successful launch, as of Friday, November 7, 2025 , the three operators have adopted the same approach: all mobile customers have access to 5G without any change to their plan or SIM card, and without any additional charges or fees on their initial bill. However, direct access to the 5G network is contingent upon using a compatible device (5G smartphone) or being located in an area covered and served by the network.
According to Orange Morocco, as of the launch on November 7th, «more than a hundred cities benefit from 5G coverage.» Progressive extensions are planned for other localities and regions throughout the country. For the operator Inwi, 5G will cover the main cities from the launch. This represents, according to the “Al Mada” subsidiary, « a major step towards a fully connected Morocco.»
It is worth noting that the relevance of 5G lies primarily in the multiple uses it offers. More than just a technology, 5G allows for a tenfold increase in high-definition connectivity, with virtually no latency. The main benefit is the speed, even the very speed, of downloading large files (streaming, movies, videos, sports matches, video conferences, training materials, etc.) in real time. The impact of this technology will be felt even more acutely by businesses, Industry 4.0 factories, and B2B companies.
«5G opens up new perspectives for businesses, through real-time collaboration, remote control of machines and vehicles via sensors, and the automation of digitalization processes…
Ultra-fast and, above all, stable connectivity will allow businesses, factories, and government agencies to become more agile and competitive,» explained one carrier. Indeed, it is this segment of the telecom market that holds unlimited opportunities for operators. According to our sources, the three carriers will be marketing packages dedicated to businesses, with all-in-one solutions. This is the case, in particular, with Inwi, which is launching new “5G Business Connect” boxes. These are very high-speed broadband solutions with a fixed line and customizable options that allow employees and machines/equipment to connect in real time.

Beware of the illusion of «price stability»!

By launching 5G offers in Morocco, the three operators are giving the impression of generosity by maintaining 4G subscriber rates when switching to 5G. The three providers promise that «5G is immediately accessible,» and above all, «at no extra cost «. However, according to expert Khalid Ziani, there are unspoken issues on this point. «It is s an illusion to think that rates will remain the same when switching from 4G to 5G» .
While 5G will certainly allow for smoother viewing of videos, movies, and football matches, it also consumes data more quickly. In short, subscribers will use more data than they pay for. «You can’t launch a new technology that increases bandwidth by 5 or 10 to 20 times and continue with the same limited data and time-based offer ,» explained the expert. “ 5G encourages the consumption of more than 4 gigabytes in less than 5 minutes ,” the expert pointed out. In other words, customers will pay more without realizing it.
According to the same source, the logic is that phone carriers will significantly increase data volume and duration, and above all, without additional charges. It is worth noting that during the 5G launch in France, operators increased data allowances fivefold. To put it simply, they expanded the volume from 4 to 30 gigabytes. Otherwise, prepaid data will be used up more quickly, forcing customers to make more frequent top-ups.

Amin RBOUB