Maroc Telecom: Internet market not big enough.

Morocco's largest telecom operator, Maroc Telecom, has recently pleaded for cutting Internet connection tariffs to enlarge the market before seeking benefits. According to MAP, the company's chief, Abdeslam Ahizoune who was presenting the operator's results for 2007, said the 476,000 ADSL connections and 6 million Internet users are "good for the business but not for Morocco."

"That's little to me. The 21.7% growth is quite much for the business, but little for Morocco," Ahizoune said, adding that reducing Internet tariffs requires the approval of the authorities overseeing competitiveness and an agreement between the operators working in Morocco, i.e. Maroc Telecom, Medi Telecom and Wana.

Last year, Morocco accounted for 1.29 million landline clients, say a 1.8% rise compared to 2006, the CEO conveyed, adding that the newly created "Phony" products has largely contributed to this increase.

Maroc Telecom has achieved a consolidated turnover of around US$ 3.51 billion in 2007, i.e. a 21.7% rise compared to the previous year thanks, mainly, to the continuing growth of mobile activities. According to Ahizoun, the group's net gains climbed by 19.2% to hit US$ 1.04 billion in 2007.

Ahizoune stated that his company had invested close to US$ 169 million in its African subsidiaries in Mauritania (Mauritel), Burkina Faso (Onatel) and Gabon (Gabon Telecom).

[c] 2008 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)