Morocco’s Telecom Companies Face-off over ‘Unfair Competition’

Morocco’s third largest telecoms operator, Inwi, is suing market leader Maroc Telecom over unfair competition claiming $620 million in payment.

Inwi accuses Maroc Telecom of holding 60% of Morocco’s telecoms market, saying that such a share is against the law, which states that companies should not exceed 40%.

Kuwait’s Zain and Kuwaiti Investment Authority’s Al Ajial Investments bought 15.5% each in a joint deal for 31 percent of Inwi in 2009.

Maroc Telecom, the North African country’s largest telecoms operator, is controlled by the United Arab Emirates’ Etisalat Group.

According to the most recent figures from Moroccan telecoms regulator ANRT, dating to December 2017, Maroc Telecom held 42.1% of the mobile market against 23% for Inwi.

Maroc Telecom held 84% of the fixed line telephone market against 12.6% for Inwi, and nearly 48.9% of the internet market against Inwi’s 23.5 % share.