5G in Morocco: The Complete Guide to Staying Connected During Your Trip

Updated on · 14 min read
Phone showing a Wi-Fi signal in a souk alley at sunset

Yes: Morocco has had 5G since 7 November 2025, when Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi switched it on the same day, and by the end of March 2026 it covered 44% of the population, according to ANRT figures reported by FNH. The three operators have committed to reach 45% by the end of 2026 and 85% by the end of 2030. It costs nothing extra: Orange and inwi include 5G in their prepaid top-ups at no additional charge, and Maroc Telecom moves customers with a compatible phone onto 5G for free. A tourist can therefore use it with a Moroccan operator’s SIM or eSIM and a 5G phone (from the iPhone 12 onwards, for example), unless the phone is a Samsung bought abroad: Orange and inwi say those cannot use their 5G for now.

The essentials

  • Launched on 7 November 2025 by all three operators, with more than 6,000 5G base stations in more than 50 cities according to the ANRT; moving from 4G to 5G is free with a compatible phone, and no new SIM is needed.
  • Coverage: 44% of the population at the end of March 2026. Orange publishes a list of 132 covered cities, including Marrakech, Essaouira, Ouarzazate, Zagora and Errachidia; we found none from Maroc Telecom or inwi.
  • Speed: Ookla’s median 5G download fell from 261.7 Mbps at launch to about 160 Mbps six months later; in May 2026 the ANRT measured an average of 148 Mbps across ten cities and 168 Mbps in Marrakech (4G and 5G smartphones).
  • Health: since 2023, Morocco’s exposure limits follow the ICNIRP guidelines, and the ANRT reports measured levels “very far below” those limits.
  • The router we rent runs on 4G (not 5G) on Maroc Telecom’s network, Opensignal’s “Best Network” in April 2026: maps, video calls and HD streaming for up to 10 devices.

Pocket WiFi in Marrakech

Maroc Telecom 4G router: €4.90 a day (2-day minimum), up to 10 devices, delivered and collected free of charge at your accommodation in Marrakech, 9 am to 6 pm.

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In this article

Does Morocco have 5G?

Yes. Morocco’s three mobile operators, Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and inwi, launched commercial 5G on 7 November 2025. The ANRT, the telecoms regulator, announced that day that “more than 6,000 5G base stations” were live across “more than 50 cities”, and that moving from 4G to 5G was “currently free of charge” for anyone with a compatible smartphone. There is no SIM to swap: the phone switches to 5G by itself where it is available and drops back to 4G elsewhere.

The licences were awarded by the ANRT in July 2025 after a competitive tender, for 20 years, renewable. According to the award announcement of 25 July 2025, Maroc Telecom paid about €83 million for 120 MHz of spectrum and Orange and inwi about €55 million each for 70 MHz, with close to €7.4 billion of investment and costs planned by 2035. The networks combine the 3.5 GHz and 700 MHz bands (Ookla, August 2026). They started as non-standalone 5G (NSA), built on the 4G core; standalone 5G (SA) is due to begin about two years after launch, according to the ANRT’s evaluation report.

Where 5G works in Morocco in 2026: coverage and cities

Maroc Telecom website: 5G launch page

In 2026, 5G mainly covers Morocco’s large cities: 38% of the population outdoors at the end of 2025 (ANRT, quoted by Ookla), then 44% at the end of March 2026, the most recent national figure we could find on 10 November 2026. The ANRT’s licence terms set a minimum: eight cities and their airports from November 2025, 25% of the population by the end of 2026 at the latest and 70% by the end of 2030; the list of the eight cities has not been published. The three operators committed to go further, 45% of the population by the end of 2026 and 85% by the end of 2030, according to the ANRT’s award announcement.

OperatorPublished 5G coverageCity list5G on prepaid lines
Maroc TelecomNearly 60 cities in the first week, including Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir; 38% of the population at the end of 2025 (2025 annual report)No public list foundAutomatic switch “at no extra cost” with a compatible smartphone
Orange Maroc“135 cities” (orange.ma, read on 10 November 2026)Yes: a PDF of 132 city names, dated November 2025Included on contract and top-up lines, “no extra charge”; a 4G SIM is enough
inwiNo rate or city on its 5G page (checked on 10 November 2026)None“Included in all inwi mobile top-ups, at no extra cost”
All three44% of the population and about 8,400 base stations at the end of March 2026 (ANRT, via FNH)——

Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Zagora: southern cities on Orange’s list

Orange’s list is the only operator list of 5G cities we found. Along the routes most travellers take, it includes Marrakech, Tamansourt, Ait Ourir, Chichaoua, Essaouira, Agadir, Taroudant, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Errachidia, Midelt and Er-Rich. It does not include Merzouga, Erfoud, Rissani, Tinghir, Skoura, M’Hamid, Imlil, Asni, Tahanaout or Amizmiz. A listed city does not mean the whole municipality gets 5G: expect it in town, not on desert tracks, in the dunes or in the Atlas valleys.

Is there a 5G coverage map for Morocco?

Not as of 10 November 2026. Orange links to its PDF list of cities, with no interactive map; we found no map or list from Maroc Telecom or inwi; and the ANRT publishes no coverage map, only a map of its radio-wave exposure measurements. Outside towns, no operator publishes its coverage. For 4G outside the cities, see our comparison of mobile coverage from Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi and our page on phone signal in the Moroccan desert.

How fast is 5G in Morocco? The 2026 measurements

On 5G, measured download speeds in Morocco range from 136.6 to 280.2 Mbps depending on the operator (Opensignal, Q1 2026), and Ookla’s median settled at around 160 to 165 Mbps six months after launch. Opensignal compares operators using its users’ phones (report published in April 2026, data from 1 January to 31 March 2026):

Opensignal, Q1 2026Maroc TelecomOrangeinwi
5G download speed280.2 Mbps136.6 Mbps198.5 Mbps
5G upload speed36.6 Mbps22.2 Mbps27.8 Mbps
Share of time on 5G (5G users)38.7%51.2%44.6%
Typical download speed, all networks (4G and 5G)27.5 Mbps23.7 Mbps22.8 Mbps
Coverage Experience (out of 10)9.27.89.1

So even with a 5G phone, Maroc Telecom and inwi users spend more than half their time off 5G. In an article on North Africa dated 1 October 2026, Opensignal names Maroc Telecom the leader for 5G Consistent Quality and Orange the leader for 5G Availability.

5G is slower than at launch

Ookla tracked Moroccan 5G over its first six months (article of 3 August 2026). The median 5G download speed was 261.7 Mbps on launch day and 266.9 Mbps in the first month, then 185.9 Mbps in the third month, before settling at around 160 to 165 Mbps: a 38% fall, the steepest of the four North African countries studied. Over the same period the median 4G speed fell by 28%, which Ookla links to a possible reallocation of capacity to 5G. Its Speedtest Global Index for September 2026 puts Morocco’s median mobile download speed at 68.41 Mbps, 4G and 5G combined (68th in the world).

The ANRT’s tests in ten cities (May 2026)

From 26 to 28 May 2026, the ANRT ran 15,720 tests in ten cities with smartphones able to use 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. The average download speed across the three operators was 148 Mbps, including 168 Mbps in Marrakech and 91 Mbps in Errachidia, the measured city closest to the desert. Average latency was 51 ms and 99.77% of connections succeeded. The ANRT does not publish speeds by operator, and the tests were run in town: they say nothing about the countryside.

For a traveller, 5G mainly speeds up large transfers: backing up videos, downloading a film before a flight, sending heavy work files. Maps, WhatsApp, video calls and HD streaming already work well on a good 4G connection, and that is still what most subscribers use: at the end of March 2026, 86.8% of Moroccan mobile internet subscriptions were on 4G and 8.4% on 5G, about 3.2 million (ANRT observatory). Opensignal’s typical download speed, 4G and 5G combined, ranges from 22.8 to 27.5 Mbps depending on the operator.

Sources: Opensignal, “Morocco Mobile Network Experience”, April 2026 (data from 1 January to 31 March 2026), and article of 1 October 2026; Ookla, “5G in North Africa Shows Mixed Results One Year On”, 3 August 2026, and Speedtest Global Index, September 2026 edition; ANRT, “QoS Data Aïd Al-Adha 2026” report (August 2026) and internet observatory for Q1 2026.

Can tourists get 5G in Morocco? SIM, eSIM or roaming

Yes, a tourist can get 5G in Morocco, on three conditions: a line that allows it, a compatible phone and a covered area. Prepaid lines from all three Moroccan operators allow it at no extra cost, with an ordinary 4G SIM at Orange (see the coverage table above); they require identification, which for a visitor means a passport. With international eSIMs, it depends on the provider:

OfferNetwork(s)5GPrice checked on 10 November 2026
eSIM Marocnot statednot verified€24, 7 days (1 GB a day then 512 kbps)
Orange Marhaba (SIM or eSIM)Orange“5G compatible”about €11, 7 days of unlimited internet
inwi eSIM packinwiIncluded in top-ups (inwi FAQ)about €11, 7 days of unlimited internet
Maroc Telecom E-SIM VisiteursMaroc TelecomAutomatic switch with a compatible phone (visitor page silent)about €29.50, 14 days of unlimited internet
Holaflyinwi, Maroc Telecom, Orange“If available”€29.90, 7 days
NomadOrangeNo, 4G€24.19, 7 days
AiraloOrange, Maroc TelecomNo, 4G€29, 7 days
UbigiMaroc Telecom, OrangeNo (“No 5G” shown)about €22.38, 7 days (25 GB then 2 Mbps)

Prices checked on 10 November 2026 on each provider’s website; Maroc Telecom from an archived copy of its page dated 2 November 2026. Prices converted to euros and rounded. 5G column: what each provider states.

When roaming, your phone only uses Moroccan 5G if your home network has a 5G roaming agreement with a local operator; otherwise it stays on 4G. Morocco is outside the EU’s roam-like-at-home zone and UK networks’ Europe bundles, so data is charged on top unless your plan names Morocco. Network-by-network prices are in our guide to avoiding roaming charges in Morocco.

Which to choose? Travelling alone with an eSIM-compatible phone, take the eSIM we recommend, eSIM Maroc: €24 for 7 days, 1 GB a day at full speed then 512 kbps until the next day, data only, installed before you leave (the plan starts the first time it connects to a Moroccan network). If 5G matters to you, you need an offer that states it in the table, usually a Moroccan operator line (about €11 for 7 days of unlimited internet with Orange or inwi), and a compatible phone. Two or more of you, a laptop, a phone without eSIM or heavy video use, and a trip that goes through Marrakech: a shared pocket Wi-Fi router is the simplest option (see below). To compare everything, see our comparison of eSIMs for Morocco and our page on Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi eSIMs.

Which phones get 5G in Morocco, and how to turn it on

To get 5G in Morocco you need a 5G phone that supports band n78 (3.5 GHz), 5G switched on in its settings and a line that gives access to it.

  1. Check the model. Orange says its 5G works “from the iPhone 12 and the iPhone SE 2022” onwards, with iOS 16.4 at least. inwi’s list also includes the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G and later, recent Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip models, the Google Pixel 5 and later and the Xiaomi 10 and later, among others.
  2. Check the bands. Moroccan networks use the 3.5 GHz (n78) and 700 MHz (n28) bands: your phone’s specification sheet should list n78 at least.
  3. Turn 5G on. On iPhone: Mobile Data, Mobile Data Options, Voice & Data, 5G Auto. On Android: Mobile network, Preferred network type, then a mode that includes 5G. On the Moroccan side there is nothing to configure: the switch is automatic.
  4. Use the right line. With a Moroccan SIM or eSIM you get 5G directly if the phone supports it; a prepaid SIM is bought with your passport.

Samsung bought outside Morocco

Orange writes (our translation) that “Samsung phones bought abroad are not compatible with 5G in Morocco for the moment” and that an update is being rolled out; inwi says the same and expects a Samsung software update “soon”. With a Galaxy bought in the UK or elsewhere in Europe, count on 4G (both operators’ pages checked on 10 November 2026).

Is 5G dangerous? What the ANRT and the WHO say

No official source concludes that 5G is a health risk. Since 2023, Morocco has set radio-wave exposure limits “aligned with the ICNIRP recommendations”, the international reference body, through an ANRT technical specification published in Official Bulletin no. 7204 of 15 June 2023. For the general public, above 2 GHz (Moroccan 5G uses 3.5 GHz among other bands), the reference level is 10 W/m², averaged over 30 minutes; the specific absorption rate (SAR) is capped at 2 W/kg for the head and trunk.

  • Field measurements: the ANRT states that measured levels are “very far below the limit values”; it publishes a map of its measurements, and anyone can request a measurement through a form.
  • SAR labelling: compulsory since 1 May 2025 for phones, tablets, watches with a SIM or eSIM, and mobile modems or routers used within 20 cm of the body.
  • World Health Organization: “To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies”; provided overall exposure stays below international guidelines, “no consequences for public health are anticipated”. The page dates from February 2020 and notes that only a few studies had then looked at 5G frequencies.

Sources: ANRT, “Effet de rayonnement” page (read on 10 November 2026) and technical specification ANRT-STA/GEN-REM V1-2023 (ANRT quotations translated by us); WHO, Q&A “Radiation: 5G mobile networks and health”, 27 February 2020.

Is the Rent A Phone router 5G? No, 4G on Maroc Telecom's network

TP-Link 4G pocket Wi-Fi router

The pocket Wi-Fi router we rent is a TP-Link 4G LTE Cat 4, which does not pick up 5G. It runs on Maroc Telecom’s 4G network, named “Best Network” by Opensignal in April 2026, with the best coverage score (9.2 out of 10) and the fastest typical download speed (27.5 Mbps) of the three operators. 4G reaches more than 99% of the population according to the ANRT (99% for Maroc Telecom, according to its 2025 annual report), against 44% for 5G at the end of March 2026. The router’s theoretical maximum is 150 Mbps; in practice, speed depends on location and network load. A travel router is there first to share one steady connection between several devices, and maps, WhatsApp, video calls and HD streaming work well on 4G.

  • Unlimited data, up to 10 connected devices, battery up to 8 hours (optional power bank, €1.90 a day).
  • €4.90 per day per router, 2-day minimum, so €34.30 for a week; paid online by card, in euros; €50 deposit held as a card authorisation, not charged and released when you return the router.
  • Free delivery and collection in Marrakech, at your hotel, riad, Airbnb or wherever you’re staying, between 9 am and 6 pm; the router then works wherever Maroc Telecom’s 4G reaches, on day trips and road trips alike.
  • Customer service 7 days a week, 9 am to 6 pm; rated 5.0/5 from 52 Google reviews.

For a group, a laptop, phones without eSIM or heavy use, and a trip that goes through Marrakech: book a 4G router. Travelling alone with a compatible phone, an eSIM is simpler: our guide to eSIMs in Morocco explains buying and activating one.

FAQ: 5G in Morocco

Does Morocco have 5G?

Yes. Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and inwi launched commercial 5G on 7 November 2025. By the end of March 2026 it covered 44% of the population, according to ANRT figures reported by FNH, mainly in the large cities; the operators have committed to 45% by the end of 2026 and 85% by the end of 2030.

Yes. Maroc Telecom lists Marrakech among its 5G cities from the first week, and Marrakech is on the list of covered cities published by Orange. In May 2026 the ANRT measured an average download speed of 168 Mbps there with 4G and 5G smartphones. On trips to the Atlas or the desert, do not count on 5G: outside towns, no coverage is published.

Yes, with a Moroccan operator’s SIM or eSIM and a compatible phone: Orange and inwi include 5G in their prepaid top-ups at no extra charge, and Maroc Telecom switches compatible phones over automatically. A 4G SIM is enough. When roaming, you also need a 5G agreement between your home network and a Moroccan operator.

Moroccan operators’ eSIMs do, if your phone is compatible: Orange labels its Marhaba plans “5G compatible” and inwi includes 5G in its top-ups, from about €11 for 7 days. Among the international eSIMs checked on 10 November 2026, Holafly offers 5G “if available”, Nomad and Airalo state 4G and Ubigi shows “No 5G”. 4G is enough for maps, video calls and HD streaming.

Moroccan 5G combines the 3.5 GHz band (n78) and the 700 MHz band (n28). Maroc Telecom holds 120 MHz of 5G spectrum and Orange and inwi 70 MHz each, according to the ANRT. Check that your phone lists n78 at least.

Only if it is a 5G model that supports band n78: according to Orange, from the iPhone 12 and iPhone SE 2022 onwards, with iOS 16.4 at least. Orange and inwi say Samsung phones bought abroad cannot use their 5G yet. When roaming, your home network also needs a 5G agreement with a Moroccan operator; otherwise you will be on 4G.

No official source concludes that it is. Since 2023, Morocco’s exposure limits have been aligned with the ICNIRP guidelines (10 W/m² for the public above 2 GHz), and the ANRT reports measured levels “very far below” those limits. The WHO says no adverse health effect has been causally linked with wireless technologies and anticipates no public-health consequences while exposure stays below international guidelines (page from February 2020).

There is no official map as of 10 November 2026. Orange publishes a PDF list of 132 covered cities, including Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Zagora and Errachidia; we found no list from Maroc Telecom or inwi, and the ANRT publishes no coverage map. A listed city is not necessarily covered in every neighbourhood.

No. At launch the ANRT said the move to 5G was free, Orange states that “no extra charge” applies and inwi that 5G is included in all its top-ups. For a visitor, the cost depends mostly on how you connect: roaming billed by your home network, or a Moroccan SIM or eSIM at local prices.

No. It is a 4G LTE Cat 4 router on the Maroc Telecom network, with unlimited data and up to 10 connected devices, at €4.90 a day. 4G is enough for browsing, maps, video calls and HD streaming, and it reaches more than 99% of the population, against 44% for 5G at the end of March 2026.

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TP-Link 4G pocket Wi-Fi router

Pocket WiFi in Marrakech

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