The Agence Nationale de Réglementation des
Télécommunications (ANRT) was formed in August 1997 pursuant to
decree No 24-96 to:
- Reorganise the telecoms sector and take over the functions previously
handled by the government;
- Guarantee competition in the market and act transparently,
- Protect players and users against the risks of illegal and unfair market
practices;
- Give equal treatment of the users as regards tariffs;
- Guarantee the respect, by the operators, of the agreements and
International Conventions ratified by the Kingdom of Morocco, as regards
universal provisions relating to telecommunications;
- Discharge the government’s policy on the sector; and
- Ensure the correct operation and the protection of operator networks to be
able to meet the needs for national defense and security.
The new structure of this sector, as stated in the law, defines the
following objectives:
- To create an efficient and transparent statutory body for telecommunication
network operators and service users;
- To develop modern telecom networks and services;
- To ensure widespread provision of services; and
- To create employment opportunities directly or indirectly related to the
sector.
The regulator falls under the Ministry of Communication with some policy
input from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cottage Industry and Ministry
of Finance.
In March 1997 the government of Morocco announced that it would reform the
telecommunications sector and passed the necessary legislation, which has
resulted in:
- The separation of postal and telecommunication activities;
- The separation of regulation and production operations; and
- The opening of the market to competition.
Further, the process has brought about the creation of:
- The National Agency of Telecommunication Regulation, in charge of preparing
statutory acts related to the telecommunications sector;
- Barid Al Maghrib, a traditional public establishment in charge of managing
postal activity; and
- Itissalat Al Magrib, a financially autonomous telecommunications company.
Under the same legislation, the government of Morocco later granted a second
GSM licence.
Morocco has been a member of WTO since 1 January 1995 and its present
telecommunication legislation contains various provisions to meet WTO
guidelines on Basic Telecommunication Services. Briefly these are:
- Fair competition;
- The obligation to keep separate financial records for each network and
service used;
- A service which guarantees both confidentiality and neutrality with regards
to any transmitted messages;
- Instructions with respect to national defence and public safety and the
prerogatives of the legal authorities;
- Modes of contribution to the general missions of the State and, in
particular, to the tasks and responsibilities associated with universal
service, regional and national development, and the protection of the
environment;
- Conditions under which necessary information will be supplied for a
directory for subscribers;
- The obligation to respect the international agreements and conventions
ratified by the Kingdom of Morocco;
- The obligation to put emergency calls through without a charge; and
- The contribution to research, training and standardisation in the field of
telecommunications.
