Inwi and Maroc Telecom Deal Embodies the Larger Trend of Telco Alliances Accelerating 5G Adoption Across Africa

Morocco's push to become a leading 5G hub in Africa is gaining significant momentum, with the recent strategic partnership between two major telco players—Maroc Telecom and Inwi—representing a major step forward. This collaboration has led to the creation of two joint ventures, FiberCo and TowerCo, which aim to advance the country’s telco infrastructure, particularly its 5G rollout. The partnership’s goals include expanding fiber-optic networks to reach 1 million connections within 2 years and 3 million within 5 years, as well as constructing and upgrading telco towers, with a target of 2,000 new towers within 3 years and 6,000 over the next decade. The initial investment for this ambitious plan is set at around US$460 million (MAD 4.4 billion) over the next 2 to 3 years. These ventures aim to open up infrastructure access to all licensed operators, fostering competition and compliance with regulatory standards.

Morocco's 5G expansion also ties into its broader ambition and need to enhance connectivity ahead of major upcoming events such as the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup, where the country will serve as a host. In addition to supporting these high-profile events, the expanded 5G infrastructure will contribute to Morocco's digital transformation, economic growth, and improved mobile broadband. The Moroccan government has expressed its hope that 5G will benefit 25% of the population by 2026 and 70% by 2030, further emphasizing the country’s commitment to widespread connectivity. This push not only focuses on the major events, but also seeks to ensure long-term, nationwide access to 5G capabilities, helping bridge the digital divide and stimulate further economic development.

The partnership between telco operators in Africa is part of a growing trend as the continent prepares for 5G rollouts, although, with a few exceptions, 5G infrastructure is still largely in its infancy. Despite the optimism surrounding 5G, many African nations are facing significant delays in the deployment process. For instance, in Morocco, spectrum auctions—critical to the launch of 5G—have been delayed multiple times over the past 2 years. However, telco operators in Africa are still making strategic moves to collaborate in anticipation of future 5G deployment. For instance, Telecom Egypt and Orange Egypt formed a strategic partnership in early 2025 to enhance the country’s 5G capabilities. Unlike the tower-sharing deal between Maroc Telecom and Inwi in Morocco, which focuses on consolidating network infrastructure to reduce costs, the Egyptian partnership is centered on jointly developing and deploying 5G technology. This includes upgrading existing assets and rolling out new 5G towers. The collaboration reflects regional trends with telcos are teaming up to address 5G deployment challenges, and Egypt focusing more on technological advancement than just infrastructure sharing. These partnerships are aimed at enhancing network capabilities, building fiber networks, and preparing infrastructure for 5G, even if the technology isn't yet widely available.

These initiatives are reflective of a larger regional movement, with operators increasingly recognizing that collaborating can accelerate 5G rollouts, improve efficiency, and meet the surging demand for high-speed connectivity once the necessary spectrum is allocated. So why are telco operators in Africa collaborating on 5G rollouts? What benefits are to be gained from these partnerships?

• Market Demand and Coverage Expansion: As demand for 5G services continues to increase, especially in rural and underserved areas, operators face significant challenges in expanding coverage efficiently. To address this, many are turning to collaborative partnerships that enable them to pool resources and share infrastructure, which helps reduce costs and deployment time. By working together, operators can overcome logistical hurdles and expedite the rollout process, ensuring faster, more widespread service delivery in regions where individual deployments would otherwise be financially unfeasible.
• Regulatory and Government Support: In Africa, Morocco serves as a notable example where regulatory and government support is driving significant changes in the telecommunications landscape. In 2025, the country's National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) took a groundbreaking step by mandating telco operators to share their fiber-optic infrastructure. This move requires the three major telco players—Maroc Telecom, Orange, and Inwi—to adopt new technical and pricing guidelines for infrastructure sharing. The goal of this regulation is to promote competition, reduce costs, and facilitate wider access to advanced technologies like 5G. This initiative is set to transform the telco market in Morocco, making it more dynamic and equitable for both operators and consumers. However, the continued delays in 5G spectrum auctions have hindered the immediate rollout of 5G in Morocco and other regions, pushing the timeline for large-scale deployment further into the future.
• Technology Innovation and Future-Proofing: Collaboration allows operators to leverage the latest technologies and innovations from multiple vendors, which is increasingly important in a rapidly evolving 5G landscape. By working together, telco players can reduce dependency on any single vendor, mitigate risks associated with technology limitations, and future-proof their infrastructure. This is particularly vital in light of global supply chain challenges and geopolitical concerns, as operators strive to diversify their technology partnerships to maintain competitive advantage and network security.

These collaborations are already having a profound impact on 5G rollouts across Africa. Shared infrastructure accelerates deployment timelines, particularly in regions where coverage has historically been sparse. By pooling resources and expertise, telco operators can speed up the process of delivering 5G to a wider audience. This is evident in the projected 10.4% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for base station antennas revenue in Africa between 2024 and 2029, a strong indicator of the rapid pace of 5G rollouts. These efforts also foster a more competitive and sustainable market, allowing operators to focus on enhancing their services, while minimizing overbuilding or inefficient investments. In the long run, these partnerships will help meet the growing demand for high-speed connectivity, fueling economic growth and fostering both digital inclusion and technological advancement across the continent. However, it’s clear that 5G is still a distant reality for many African nations, and it will take time before it becomes widespread.

While Africa's telco operators are making significant strides toward expanding 5G infrastructure, several challenges remain that could slow down the widespread deployment and adoption of the technology. These challenges include high infrastructure costs, the need for extensive spectrum allocation, serving rural and underserved regions, and the complexities of maintaining network quality in competitive markets. To overcome these obstacles and facilitate the efficient rollout of 5G across the continent, operators should focus on the following recommendations:

• Collaborate on Infrastructure Sharing: Operators should continue to explore partnerships that focus on sharing key infrastructure such as towers, fiber networks, and backhaul connections. This collaboration will not only reduce costs, but also speed up the deployment of 5G, while expanding network reach, especially in rural and underserved areas. By avoiding unnecessary duplication of infrastructure and making the best use of existing resources, operators can ensure that 5G services are accessible more broadly and quickly across the continent.
• Engage with Regulators for Timely Spectrum Allocation: Operators must work closely with national regulators to ensure that spectrum for 5G is allocated fairly and promptly. Effective spectrum policies are vital for the successful rollout of networks, as they support the expansion of coverage, improvement of performance, and the ability to meet growing demand. By collaborating with regulators, operators can help speed up the allocation process, while aligning the deployment with national development objectives.
• Focus on Passive Infrastructure for 5G Expansion: With a projected 10.4% CAGR for base station antenna revenue in Africa over the next 5 years, operators should prioritize investing in high-quality passive infrastructure, particularly base station antennas, to support the continent's gradual 5G rollout. Despite delays in spectrum auctions, telco operators can position themselves for future growth by securing reliable antenna vendors, ensuring that they can meet the increasing demand for 5G coverage in underserved regions. By targeting the right antenna technology, operators can accelerate network deployment and scalability. Additionally, this approach presents a significant opportunity for antenna vendors to grow their business, as they will be essential partners in providing the infrastructure needed for reliable 5G networks across Africa.

To seize this opportunity, antenna vendors should focus on practical solutions that address the continent’s deployment realities—limited grid access, challenging terrain, and the need for rapid rural expansion. It’s not just about the hardware; operators are looking for partners that not only understand local challenges, but can also navigate regulatory shifts and be ready to support shared infrastructure models. Vendors that can adapt to these dynamics and build deep operator relationships will be well placed to lead as 5G demand scales across the region.