Enhancing ICT Standardization in Morocco: An Overview and Recommendations

1. ITU Regional Standardization Forum for Africa (Kampala, Uganda, 23-25 June 2014) Coordinating the standardization of ICT activities in Morocco Hassan TALIB, Vice-Chairman, ITU-T SG 12, Head, DCT ANRT talib@anrt.ma // htalib@ties.itu.int

2. Overview of the presentation • Introduction: Definitions and objectives • Moroccan institutions concerned by ICT standardization • Follow-up of activities, ITU-T study groups and corresponding operational activities • Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco: • Type approvals of telecom equipment • Implementation of the national broadband and high-speed broadband plan • Conclusion and recommendations

3. Introduction Features of Morocco: • Emerging/developing country. • A developed ICT sector by comparison with the rest of the region and the continent as a whole: Mobile penetration rate >132%, sector (finance and infrastructure) divided between three fixed operators, 2G, 3G and 4G mobile under way, regulatory levers being implemented, etc. • Limited local capacity for manufacturing telecommunication equipment. • Extensive use of and involvement in ITU standardization.

4. Introduction Why have ICT standardization? • Standards: • provide a framework for the global organization of electronic communications; • promotediversity, ease of use, low prices, and the preservation of personalfreedom; • determine the conditions of offers, investment and operation by operators and content publishers; • guide the process of transforming innovations from the component, equipment and software industries intoindustrialproducts; • ensureconformance and interoperability.

5. Introduction Submission of proposals at WTSA regarding future questions for study and future programmes of activity Appointment of representatives as study group chairmen or vice-chairmen, rapporteurs, focus group chairmen, etc. How a country can participate in the development of ICT standards: • Developing standards • Influencing the design of standards • Adopting standards for products and services • Using products based on standards • Regulating standards or developing standards policies. • Providing education on standards Presentation of contributions to study group or other related meetings Hosting ITU meetings and/or creation of regional groups (Resolution 54) Participation in study group or related meetings Sector or Associate Member of ITU Training and capacity building at the national level with regard to use of ITU Recommendations Greater use of ITU Recommendations

6. Introduction Four levels of national standardization capacity National standardization strategy Participation in standards development at national and international levels Adoption of standards for products and services Minimal capacity with regard to standardization other than use of products based on standards Level 4: Advanced standardization capacity Level 1: Low standardization capacity Level 2: Elementary standardization capacity Level 2: Rudimentary standardization capacity Level 3: Intermediate standardization capacity Level3: Elementary standardization capacity Level3: Elementary standardization capacity

7. Moroccan institutions concerned by ICT standardization • and • and • Operators: Maroc télécoms, Méditelecom, Wana,…: follow-up, implementation, and contributions to the state budget (0.75% of turnover). • Manufacturers (multinationals) • Universities, colleges and research institutions, etc. • Installers, integrators, and manufacturers

8. Follow-up of standardization activities: Levels of coordination (for ITU-T, ITU-R or ITU-D) • Level 1: Follow-up for everystakeholderinvolved in the sector. • Level 2: Establishment of a national committee for every ITU event; invitation by the Ministry and the regulator. • Level 3: Formulation of a national position. • Level 4: Presence and alignment with the positions of the regional groups (Arab and African). 8

9. ITU-T study groups and corresponding operational activities 9

10. ITU-T study groups and corresponding operational activities 10

11. ITU-T study groups and corresponding operational activities 11

12. ITU-T study groups and corresponding operational activities 12

13. Standardization – An essential tool of regulation Follow-up of standardization activities The aims of regulation are to: • promote efficient competition; • attract investors with a solid regulatory framework; • protect consumers’ interests; • ensure network interoperability and integrity and compliance with basic requirements; • optimize use of scarce resources (spectrum, numbering, and so on). What standardization provides: • open, non-proprietary technologies; • long-term vision of market trends; • anticipation of problems of equipment compatibilty, translation of basic requirements into specific technical parameters; • Optimal means of managing scarce resources. 13

14. Follow-up of standardization activities Challenges due to the nature of the activity: Involvement of multiple stakeholders (2) BASIC REQUIREMENTS ITU CENELEC International market WTO ECS 14

15. Follow-up of standardization activities Example : IMT2000 systems 15

16. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco1 Type approvals of telecommunication equipment • Absence of a local telecommunication equipment manufacturing industry, and • Diversity of imported telecommunication equipment and technologies • The need to assess imported equipment for its compliance with national technical standards, without causing a slow-down in the arrival of new technologies.

17. Technical requirements Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco 1 Type approvals of telecommunication equipment • These cover mainly the following aspects: • Telecom • Electrical safety • Electromagnetic compatibility • Conformance can be shown through tests under the applicable standards. Availability of a local test lab covering most standards: Possibility of participating in the ITU Mark conformance and interoperabilty programme. • Possibility of conducting initial tests and audits at manufacturing sites. 17

18. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco1 Type approvals of telecommunication equipment • Regulatory framework • “All radio installations, whether or not intended for connection to a public telecommunication network ” Article 15 of Law No. 24-96 • “Terminal equipment intended for connection to a public telecommunication network” Article 15 of Law No. 24-96 • The ANRT is responsible for establishing the technical and administrative specifications for type approvals of terminal equipment and radio installations and the applicable technical regulations Article 29 of Law No. 24-96 See example: DECISION ANRT/DG/N°04/14 OF 17 FEBRUARY 2014 ESTABLISHING THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR TYPE APPROVALS OF TERMINAL EQUIPMENT AND RADIO INSTALLATIONS 18

19. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco1 Type approvals of telecommunication equipment Companies/Operators/Individuals Customs/excise Type approval Standards National frequency plan Terminal points in public telecommunication networks 19

20. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco1 Type approvals of telecommunication equipment • Evolution of the type approval system • Since 17 March 2003: Relaxation of the type approval system • Adoption of a Decision introducing: • a declaratory system, for equipment with interfaces that conform to the technical specifications published by the ANRT; • a non-declaratory system, for other equipment. • Publication of several decisions establishing technical specifications/type approval standards (based on international standards but taking account of national conditions), including: • 68 relating to radio installations; • 7 relating to terminal equipment. • Introduction of a posteriori monitoring: market-related checks. 20

21. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco1 Type approvals of telecommunication equipment Evolution resulting from standardization Terminal equipment Radio installation Terminal equipment Terminal equipment Terminal equipment 21

22. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco: 1 Implementation of the national broadband and very high-speed broadband plan (2011): • Of the country’s 1535 communes: • 50%, representing at most 75% of the population, are covered by ADSL fixed Internet providing broadband Internet services; • 99% of communes, representing 99% of the population, are covered by GSM-type mobile technologies offering low-speed voice and Internet services; • 55% of communes, representing 80% of the population, are covered by third-generation mobile technology offering mobile broadband Internet services. • Operators’ backhaul networks are mainly wireless, which limits the provision of broadband and very high-speed broadband services. • Operators’ backbone networks are based on optical fibre but cover only the major urban centres.

23. Actual cases of implementation of ICT standardization in Morocco 1 Implementation of the national broadband and very high-speed broadband plan (2011) Capacity currently marketed to government departments Capacity currently used in broadband networks Capacity currently marketed to residential customers Current requirements of residential customers Current requirements of enterprises and government departments Current requirements of broadband networks

24. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco 1 Implementation of the national broadband and very high-speed broadband plan (2012) Over the next 10 to 15 years, the national broadband and very high-speed broadband plan adopted by Morocco in 2012 will focus on three main areas: • 100% of the population, i.e. all communes, should have broadband access within a period of ten years. • 50% of the population should have very high-speed broadband access (at least 100 Mbit/s), corresponding to the 195 most densely populated communes (slightly less than 2.5% of national territory), within a time frame of 15 years. • All public administrative services in remote and/or less profitable areasshould have broadband Internet access within three to five years.

25. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco 1 Implementation of the national broadband and very high-speed broadband plan (2012 to the present) • In order to implement this plan, deployment of the followingelementsisnowunderway: • 4G networks; • OutdoorOffloading WiFi networks; • Reinforcedbackbone and backhaul networks; • FTTH in the cities; • Connection of new residential and commercial/industrialdevelopments to very high-speed fibre-optic networks; • Adoption of satellite-based solutions. • Stringentrequirementsregarding the application of standards for all equipment and networks deployed.

26. Specific cases of implementing ICT standardization in Morocco1 Implementation of the national broadband and very high-speed broadband plan (2012 to the present) Example: Connection of new residential and commercial/industrial developments to very high-speed fibre-optic networks. • Basic requirements for telecommunication equipment in new residential and construction projects; • Incorporation of ICT standards in any documentation produced by the ANRT, Ministry of Housing, operators, manufacturers, installation contractors, and so on.

27. Conclusions and recommendations • A country’s follow-up of and involvement in ICT standardization in a structured, well-organized and harmonized way in a country has direct benefits in terms of its national development.

28. Conclusions and recommendations • The Fund for Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) has been set up in order to finance the work programme outlined in WTSA Resolution 44, with the objective of facilitating participation by developing countries in the process of developing ICT standards: Training and assistance activities. • Assistance in setting up a national standardization secretariat (NSS): Support mission.

29. Thank you for your attention Questions/Answers talib@anrt.ma // htalib@ties.itu.int