Starlink in Talks to Expand Internet Service to Morocco’s Southern Regions

The connectivity of the southern regions of the kingdom is about to improve. Negotiations are underway for the deployment of the Starlink network in the Moroccan Sahara. After an initial contact between its owner Elon Musk and the Moroccan authorities in the summer of 2024, in-depth discussions took place, particularly on the occasion of the Qatar-Africa Business Forum held in Marrakech in November 2024, with Lauren Dreyer, Starlink’s vice president, according to Africa Intelligence. Starlink’s Middle East and North Africa division then continued the discussions.

The deployment of Starlink in the Moroccan Sahara will first and foremost require the obtaining of several authorizations: the approval of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), led by Mohammed Hassi-Rahou, which is responsible for the technical aspects of the file, and then that of the Directorate General of Information Systems Security (DGSSI), under the direction of General El Mostafa Rabii, who will assess the security implications of the project.

However, the national operators are concerned about a possible establishment of Starlink in the region. These traditional players in the telecommunications market are panicking at the idea of facing competition from a provider offering direct and potentially more affordable access to the Internet. But this technological development could be beneficial for the region, both in civilian and military terms. It will provide advanced connectivity solutions to the region’s inhabitants and institutions, which could not only reduce the digital divide, but also strengthen telecommunications infrastructure, with possible applications in the fields of security, education and economic development.