MAROC_TELECOM_REGISTRATION_DOCUMENT_2017

3

DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP, BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, LEGAL AND ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS Business activities

The provision of value-added services is unrestricted, subject to prior declaration to the ANRT and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The list of value-added services was set by Decreeb2-97-1024 of Februaryb25, 1998, supplemented by Order 618-08 of Marchb13, 2008, and included the administration of the “.ma” domain name. All equipment to be connected to a public telecommunications network and all radio systems is subject to the ANRT’s prior approval. Corporate networks and radio systems consisting solely of low- capacity or short-range devices may be established without restriction. Restrictions against the use of DECT short-range devices in certain parts of Morocco were removed in 2013 for devices with an embedded antenna. LICENSES AWARDED TO MAROC TELECOM Under Lawb24-96, the telecommunications networks and services previously operated by the ONPT (i.e., mainly fixed-line and mobile telecommunications networks and services, and the right to use the radio frequencies allocated or assigned to the ONPT) were transferred to Maroc Telecom. As the incumbent operator, Maroc Telecom is subject to contract specifications ratified by Decreeb2-97-1028 of Februaryb25, 1998, as amended by Decreeb2-00-1333 of Octoberb9, 2000 andDecreeb2-05- 1455 of Aprilb21, 2006, which define the conditions for the operation of all networks and services initially operated by the ONPT. These contract specifications state the conditions under whichMaroc Telecom is to establish and operate, for an unlimited duration: – local and nationwide fixed landline telecommunications services (including data transmission services, leased lines and the With regard to other telecommunications networks or services,Maroc Telecom, like other operators, is subject to the provisions of Law24-96 and holds a license to deploy and operate public telecommunications networks using third-generation (3G) technology. Maroc Telecom was granted this license by Decree 2-06-498 of Decemberb29, 2006. On Aprilb10, 2015, Maroc Telecomwas awarded by Decreeb2-15-277 a 4G license that was assigned for a period ofb20byears, renewable for periods of 10- then by 5-year periods. Lastly, on Novemberb5, 2015, Maroc Telecomwas awarded a 10-year VSAT license. The following table summarizes all the licenses held by Maroc Telecom: integrated services digital network (ISDN); – GSM-standard Mobile telephony services; – international telecommunications services.

OVERVIEW Since the adoption of Lawb24-96 of Augustb7, 1997, abolishing Office National des Postes et Télécommunications (Morocco’s national post and telecommunications agency, ONPT),Morocco has had amodern regulatory framework establishing the conditions for liberalization of the telecommunications sector. The dissolution of the ONPT led to the creation of three separate legal entities: Itissalat Al-Maghrib (Maroc Telecom), a privately held corporation ( société anonyme ); Barid Al Maghrib (the postal service, hereinafter “BAM”), a financially independent public utility which in Novemberb2011 became a corporation ( société anonyme ) wholly owned by the Moroccan government and the ANRT. Liberalization continuedwith the adoption of a series of implementing decrees concerning the operation of the ANRT, interconnection, the general terms of operation for public telecommunications networks, the provision of value-added services and the provision of leased lines. In Novemberb2004, Lawb24-96, as amended by Lawb55-01, finalized the liberalization process begun in 1997 and clarified the existing statutory framework. In 2005 the decrees on interconnection and the general terms of operation of the public telecommunications networks were amended and added to. The liberalization of Morocco’s telecoms sector was based on a General Policy Document covering the period 2004-2008 which resulted in two fixed-line licenses, three 3G (UMTS) mobile licenses and a third 2G mobile license being awarded. A second General Policy Document covered the period from Februaryb25, 2010 to Januaryb1, 2013. A General Policy Document for 2014-2018 was adopted by the Management Board of the ANRT on Marchb18, 2015. AMENDMENT OF THE STATUTORY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK Draft law 121-12 amending and complementing Law 24-96 adopted by the Expanded Cabinet on Januaryb3, 2014 and the Cabinet on Januaryb20, 2014. This project is currently on standby. Rules governing the establishment and operation of telecommunication networks and services in Morocco Lawb24-96, as amended and supplemented, introduces separate rules depending on the type of telecommunications networks and services provided. Operators seeking to establish public telecommunications networks using public rights-of-way or radio-frequency spectra are required to obtain a license (granted by decree). A license may only be granted following an invitation to tender conducted by the ANRT. Licenses are granted by decree of the Prime Minister. They are unique to the license holder andmay only be transferred to third parties by decree. The establishment and operation of any independent network other than a corporate network require a license from the ANRT. Independent networks are nonprofit telecommunications networks that are reserved for private use (i.e., where use is reserved for the establishing company or individual) or shared use (i.e., where use is reserved for the exchange of internal communications between subsidiaries and/or branches of a single group of companies).

License

Effective date

Term

Fixed-line +2G

Octoberb9, 2000 Januaryb18, 2007

undefined

3G license 4G license

25byears 20 years 10byears 10byears

Aprilb11, 2015

VSAT license

Novemberb5, 2015 Decemberb31, 2007

Universal service

80

MAROC TELECOM ____ 2017 Registration Document

Made with FlippingBook HTML5