Telecommunications infrastructure in the Sahara region has witnessed an unprecedented development since 1975 covering the main communication axes and large and medium agglomerations.

The great investments devoted by the national operators in the region constitute a priority action for the region development. This action aims at the extension, improvement and modernization of telecommunication networks by helping carry out major projects in the Sahara region.

The main achievements of national operators in the Sahara region are described as follows:

Achievements of the operator Itissalat Al Maghrib (IAM)

 Voice platforms: 
since 1975, The Sahara region has witnessed the completion of major projects including the installation and commissioning of digital telephone centers, providing many facilities and services with a total capacity of 43,350 equipment serving about 30,000 subscribers.

- Laayoune Province:
The province of Laayoune has a telephone center which has been extended in 1976 to 2000 lines and a change for its attachment to the national network. In 1989, it was replaced by a central digital technology with a capacity of 4,000 lines.

Currently the province has a digital telephone center with a capacity of 15,236 lines and 11,283 subscribers in service.

- Boujdour Province:
The Boujdour province has known in 1989 the creation of a digital telephone center with a capacity of 360 subscribers. Currently, the province has a Unity of Remote Connection Subscribers (URAD) with a capacity of 2,196 lines and 1,351 subscribers in service.

- Oued Eddahab Province:
The province of Oued Eddahab saw in 1989 the setting up of a digital telephone center with a capacity of 2,986 subscribers. Currently, the province has a capacity of 4,032 lines and 3,257 subscribers in service. 

- Smara Province:
Smara The province has experienced in 1991, the establishment of a digital telephone exchange with a capacity of 1.0 subscribers. Currently, the province has a URAD with a capacity of 2,829 lines and 1,699 subscribers in service.

Moreover, the bordering provinces (Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Tata, Assa-Zag, Aousserd) saw the introduction of digital telephone centers with a total capacity of 18,668 equipment subscribers with nearly 12,044 subscribers connected.

- Tan-Tan Province:
The province of Tan-Tan has since 1978 a telephone analogical capacity of 400 subscribers. Currently, the province has three URADs: Tan-Tan, Tan-Tan City and Tan-Tan Beach with a capacity of 4,912 lines and 3,500 subscribers in service. 

- Guelmim Province:
The province of Guelmim has since 1978 two analogical telephone capacity of 1,800 subscribers. It experienced in 1993, the creation of two digital telephone centers with a capacity of 4,200 subscribers. Currently, the province has two URADs with a capacity of 8,944 lines and 6,027 subscribers in service. 

- Tata Province:
The province of Tata saw in 1990 the setting up of a digital telephone center with a capacity of 512 subscribers. Currently, the province has an URAD with a capacity of 2,464 lines and 1,477 subscribers in service.

- Assa-Zag Province:
The province of Assa-Zag which saw in 1993 the setting up of a digital telephone center with a capacity of 640 subscribers and another one in 1996 with a capacity of 500 subscribers. Currently, the province has two URADs in Assa and Zag with respective capacities of 1,836 and 974 subscribers in service.

- Aousserd Province:
Currently, the province has an URAD with a capacity of 512 lines and 67 subscribers in service.

ADSL
Over the past five years, IAM has set up the ADSL network in the Sahara region by deploying about 33 ADSL multiplexers commonly known as ADSL DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor) with a capacity of 11,756 accesses, thus offering high-speed Internet access to the region’s citizens.

Data
The ADSL customers in the region of the Sahara can access to data services (Maghripac,… VPN) or via X25 node Laayoune with 84 access via leased lines, ADSL or ISDN.

Transmission Infrastructure
The Sahara region is connected to the national network transmission by fiber optic links, digital microwave links, radio links and finally through satellite links. 

- Optic fiber infrastructure:
The cables with 24 optical fibers connect the cities of Agadir, Tiznit, Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Laayoune and Tarfaya. They include the following links:
- Connection at 2.5 Gb/s: Agadir - Noauceur - Tiznit - Bouizakarne -Guelmim - Ras Oumlil-Tan-Tan-Chbika - Akjhfenir - Taoulikt - Tarfaya - Douara - Laâyoune.
- Connection at 622 Mb/s: Agadir - Noauceur - Tiznit - Bouizakarne -Guelmim- Ras Oumlil-Tan-Tan-Chbika - Akjhfenir - Taoulikt - Tarfaya - Douara - Laâyoune.
- Connection at 622 Mb/s: Agadir - Noauceur - Tiznit- Bouizakarne -Guelmim - Ras Oumlil-Tan-Tan.

- Digital microwave system:
- Connection at 2 * 140 Mb / s: Agadir - Guelmim-Tan-Tan.
- Link at 140 Mb / s: Tan-Tan-Tarfaya - Laâyoune.
- 2 connections to 16 * 2 Mbps: Laâyoune - Smara.
- Connection at 16 * 2 Mbps: Laâyoune - Boujdour.
- connection at 16 * 2 Mbps: Boujdour - Lamzirifa.
- Connection (2) 1 x 155Mb / s: Tan-Tan-Laâyoune - Lemzirifa completely finished

Space Infrastructure in the Sahara region

The Sahara region has a large space infrastructure to allow the maximum flow of traffic with other regions of the kingdom and for the routing of international traffic for departure and arrival for the same services: fixed voice & mobile, Data, Internet….

- Dakhla City:
- Earth station 7.6m Ku-band.
- Earth station 4.6m Ku-band.
- Earth station 3.8m Ku-band.
Station 4.6 m-C band

These four stations are used for DOMSAT traffic: fixed telephony, ADSL, Mobile and enterprises (DOMSAT = Domestic Satellite). 

- 2.4M Station installed at the Bouirda site (mobile traffic)  
- 2.4M Station installed at the 3rd RIM site (mobile traffic)
- 2.4M Station installed at the Umm dreiga site (mobile traffic) 
- 2.4M Station installed at the Beggari site (mobile traffic) 

- City of Aousserd:
- Earth station 3.8m Ku-band (fixed telephony, ADSL, Mobile and companies)
- 2.4M Station installed at the Bir Gendouz site (mobile traffic)
- 2.4M Station installed at the Tichla site (mobile traffic)
- 2.4M Station installed at the barbas CAP site (mobile and fixed traffic)     

- City of Laayoune:
- Earth station 3.8m Ku-band
- Four VSAT 1.8M antenna installed at the Galtat Zemour, Amgala, Toukat Nakhla and Houza sites (publiphony Service) 

Public Phones
Nowadays, several public phones are installed in the Sahara region as shown in the following table:

GSM Network by Ittisalat Al Maghrib:  

The tables below present all facilities and infrastructure deployed by IAM in connection with the operation of its GSM network:

GSM Base Station Controller	Controller Capacity
BSC Laâyoune 1	432 TRX
BSC Laâyoune 2	448 TRX
BSC Guelmim	634 TRX
BSC Dakhla	240 TRX

Site TRX Configuration	Manufacturer	Taille antenne	Site Type	Code	CID of 1st Sector	Operation Date
1/1	Ericsson	60	SUNSITE	782010	16740	05/07/2002
4/4/4	Ericsson	17	MACRO	773018	17743	16/08/2005
2/2/2	Ericsson	39	MACRO	781018	17327	27/08/2004
1/1	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	771014	17992	08/09/2006
2/2/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	782002	16095	30/06/2001
1/1	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	770044	18059	13/07/2006
2/2/2	Ericsson	49	MACRO	772017	17859	03/01/2006
6/6/2	Ericsson	40	MACRO	772014	16806	19/11/2002
1/1	Ericsson	50	SUNSITE	771005	16725	03/07/2002
6/4/3	Ericsson	29	MACRO	772001	17896	16/05/1999
6/6/4	Ericsson	59	MACRO	773009	16999	30/10/2003
4/4/4	Ericsson	18	MACRO	770040	17239	29/06/2004
2	Ericsson	6	MICRO	773013	16860	31/07/2003
4/4/4	Ericsson	59	MACRO	773022	18130	31/10/2006
4/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	773024	17971	01/08/2006
1/1	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	773021	18228	12/11/2006
2/2/2	Ericsson	29	MACRO	781016	17452	10/11/2004
6/5/6	Ericsson	45	MACRO	771004	16474	09/05/1999
2/2/2	Ericsson	38	MACRO	770026	15715	01/05/2001
2/2	Ericsson	70	SUNSITE	771018	17947	01/06/2001
2/2	Ericsson	50	SUNSITE	771006	18151	13/07/2002
1/1	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	771012	18112	06/08/2006
4/2/6	Ericsson	38.5	MACRO	781007	15733	30/12/2000
2/1	Ericsson	50	MACRO	782008	15631	21/12/2000
3/4/6	Ericsson	28.5	MACRO	782011	16626	24/08/2002
1/1	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	771007	16692	03/09/2002
4/4/4	Ericsson	19	MACRO	770035	17414	30/10/2004
1/1	Ericsson	33	SUNSITE	772025	18155	19/09/2006
4/6/4	Ericsson	29	MACRO	782012	16845	02/12/2002
6/6/6	Ericsson	39	MACRO	773002	16429	06/11/1999
2/2/2	Ericsson	69	MACRO	770006	16407	25/12/2001
1/1	Ericsson	34	SUNSITE	770007	15721	10/05/2001
1/1	Ericsson	34	SUNSITE	770021	15995	19/04/2001
1/1	Ericsson	34	SUNSITE	770022	16486	21/04/2001
3/4/4	Ericsson	28	MACRO	773005	16827	16/12/2002
4/3/3	Ericsson	30	MACRO	773001	15823	07/04/2001
4/4/4	Ericsson	18	MACRO	773016	17263	04/07/2004
6/5/3	Ericsson	20	MACRO	770016	15523	30/09/2000
2/3	Ericsson	24	MACRO	770009	15199	06/09/2002
4/4/4	Ericsson	18	MACRO	771011	17251	10/07/2004
4/4/4	Ericsson	23	MACRO	770010	16036	23/07/2001
6/6/6	Ericsson	49	MACRO	785095	17505	18/03/2005
2/2/2	Ericsson	48.5	MACRO	781006	18270	26/06/2001
1/1	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	782009	15905	02/05/2001
2/2/1	Ericsson	39	MACRO	770028	16800	29/11/1999
2	Ericsson	7	MICRO	782003	16003	21/05/2001
2/6/2	Ericsson	52	MACRO	781003	16447	16/05/1999
6/6/6	Ericsson	23.5	MACRO	781005	10094	27/10/1999
6/6/6	Ericsson	58.5	MACRO	771008	16812	21/11/2002
4/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	773025	18085	07/08/2006
1/1	Ericsson	60	SUNSITE	770024	15967	28/05/2001
5/3/3	Ericsson	40	MACRO	770031	16629	20/02/2002
1/1	Ericsson	17	SUNSITE	770005	16722	03/05/2002
4/4/4	Ericsson	59	MACRO	773015	17002	31/07/2003
4/4/3	Ericsson	23	MACRO	770012	16039	25/07/2001
2/2/2	Ericsson	20.5	MACRO	782014	16928	28/08/2003
6/6/5	Ericsson	18	MACRO	773004	16830	24/10/2003
4/4/4	Ericsson	18.6	MACRO	782018	17939	26/04/2006
4/3/3	Ericsson	19	MACRO	781004	16419	04/01/2002
2/2	Ericsson	40	SUNSITE	770025	18217	01/07/2001
4/3/4	Ericsson	19	MACRO	770030	16782	23/11/2002
1/1	Ericsson	55	SUNSITE	772004	16716	06/05/2002
4/4/4	Ericsson	22	MACRO	781017	17192	26/05/2004
1/1	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	772028	18178	15/12/2006
4/4/4	Ericsson	20	MACRO	770042	17236	29/06/2004
3/4/2	Ericsson	16.5	MACRO	782004	16662	13/02/2002
4/4	Ericsson	70	MACRO	770001	18034	07/07/2001
2/2/2	Ericsson	59	MACRO	772005	17933	03/05/2002
2/2/2	Ericsson	49	MACRO	781026	18309	01/01/2007
4/4/4	Ericsson	60	MACRO	773023	18106	09/08/2006
2/2	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	771015	17996	11/09/2006
1/1	Ericsson	58.5	SUNSITE	771002	16404	08/05/2002
3/3/3	Ericsson	18.5	MACRO	770008	15386	19/05/2000
4/2/2	Ericsson	20	MACRO	770013	18078	30/11/1999
2/2/2	Ericsson	20	MACRO	770013	18079	30/11/1999
6/4/5	Ericsson	33	MACRO	770014	16468	24/03/1997
6/2/3	Ericsson	37	MACRO	770020	16480	01/06/1999
3/4/4	Ericsson	23	MACRO	770034	16980	18/10/2003
4/4/4	Ericsson	19	MACRO	772022	17980	27/06/2006
2/2	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	771013	17994	11/09/2006
1/1	Ericsson	82.5	SUNSITE	771001	16201	02/10/2001
1/1	Ericsson	33	SUNSITE	772024	18153	04/11/2006
2/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	781024	17836	29/12/2005
6/6/6	Ericsson	49	MACRO	785094	17508	29/12/2004
1/1	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	773020	18170	04/10/2006
2/2	Ericsson	6	MICRO	773003	16181	03/10/2001
2/2	Ericsson	50	MACRO	781011	15541	20/11/2000
2	Ericsson	25	MICRO	770018	15468	17/10/2003
2	Ericsson	-	MICRO	773014	16995	24/05/2003
2/3/3	Ericsson	26	MACRO	770029	16677	15/02/2002
1/1	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	770004	16101	31/08/2001
2/2	Ericsson	50	MACRO	770023	16030	29/06/2001
4/4/4	Ericsson	21.5	MACRO	781013	16945	24/08/2003
1/1	Ericsson	66	SUNSITE	772012	16686	02/05/2002
4/4/4	Ericsson	22	MACRO	770041	17233	30/06/2004
4/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	770043	17212	26/06/2004
2/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	773026	17974	05/08/2006
4/4	Ericsson	39	MACRO	772015	17437	05/09/2004
1/1	Ericsson	70	SUNSITE	772013	16689	12/03/2002
3/3/3	Ericsson	20	MACRO	771010	16836	21/11/2002
2/2	Ericsson	29	MACRO	781020	17398	07/11/2004
2/1	Ericsson	28.5	MACRO	781010	15538	21/11/2000
6/6/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	772016	17408	29/10/2004
3/3/3	Ericsson	21.5	MACRO	773007	16962	24/10/2003
2/2	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	771016	18226	13/01/2007
2/2	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	771017	18001	25/12/2006
4/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	772019	17986	17/06/2006
2/6/6	Ericsson	49	MACRO	773017	17082	16/05/2004
1/1	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	773019	17758	01/08/2005
2/2	Ericsson	6	MICRO	773012	16861	13/12/2002
1/1	Ericsson	40	SUNSITE	772009	15970	04/06/2001
1/1	Ericsson	40	SUNSITE	772011	16713	12/03/2002
2/2	Ericsson	29	MACRO	781015	17070	01/01/2004
2/2/2	Ericsson	14	MACRO	772030	17022	24/12/2003
1/1	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	770050	18213	29/10/2006
1/1	Ericsson	58	SUNSITE	772003	16719	03/05/2002
2/2/2	Ericsson	49	MACRO	782015	17638	30/09/2005
4/4/4	Ericsson	17	MACRO	782016	17460	07/11/2004
4/4/4	Ericsson	25	MACRO	770045	18223	06/11/2006
6/6/6	Ericsson	32	MACRO	770017	15613	29/11/2000
6/6/6	Ericsson	28	MACRO	770015	15610	29/11/2000
6/5/6	Ericsson	23	MACRO	770019	15616	29/11/2000
4/4/4	Ericsson	29	MACRO	781019	17983	19/09/2006
6/6/6	Ericsson	23	MACRO	770027	16839	01/12/2002
6/3/6	Ericsson	22	MACRO	772006	15826	24/02/2001
4/4/3	Ericsson	28	MACRO	772008	16471	06/05/1999
3/4/4	Ericsson	15	MACRO	772031	16977	24/12/2003
6/4/2	Ericsson	24	MACRO	772007	16483	05/03/2001
1/1	Ericsson	40	SUNSITE	770032	16743	03/07/2002
6/2	Ericsson	14	MACRO	782005	10064	28/08/1999
6/4/6	Ericsson	43	MACRO	782007	16432	09/05/1999
4/3/6	Ericsson	40	MACRO	782001	16435	10/05/1999
2/2	Ericsson	49	SUNSITE	770002	18211	03/09/2001
1/1	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	770033	18315	30/07/2002
2/2/2	Ericsson	49	MACRO	781023	17839	01/03/2006
4/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	773027	18082	30/07/2006
2/2/2	Ericsson	40	MACRO	781008	16047	04/07/2001
6/6/6	Ericsson	40	MACRO	772010	16809	20/11/2002
2/2/6	Ericsson	69	MACRO	770003	16477	09/05/1999
1/1	Ericsson	59	SUNSITE	782017	17961	28/05/2006
2/4/4	Ericsson	12	MACRO	772002	17893	11/05/1999
2/2/2	Ericsson	20	MACRO	773008	16965	22/10/2003
4/4/4	Ericsson	22	MACRO	770046	18003	16/08/2006
1/2	Ericsson	40	MACRO	781009	15878	06/07/2001
4/4/4	Ericsson	49	MACRO	772020	18297	02/02/2007

Map illustrating IAM facilities

Achievements by Méditelecom Operator:

In the framework of the exploitation of its GSM network, the MDT operator has deployed the following telecommunications infrastructure in the Sahara region:

- 37 GSM basic stations. Click here to see details (Annex II.1 download in a new window)
- 36 transmission links including 33 in FH and 3 in VSAT (Annex II.2 download in a new window)
- 115 public phones including:

• 51 Médiboutiques
• 62 public phones
•  2 MEDITEL stores)

- 29 outlets including: 

• 13 stores
•  13 franchisees
• 3 sub agents

The tables below show Méditelecom operator facilities:

Localization	Site A	Site B	Capacity
Dakhla City	DAK001	DAK003	2X2
	DAK001	DAK005	2X2
	DAK001	DAK006	2X2
	DAK001	DAK002	2X2
	DAK001	DAK004	8X2
Laâyoune City	LAA103	LAA102	4X2
	LAA102	BSC10	8X2
	LAA009	BSC10	2X2
	LAA002	BSC10	4X2
	LAA011	BSC10	2X2
	LAA001	BSC10	4X2
	LAA003	LAA001	4X2
	LAA008	LAA001	2X2
	LAA005	LAA001	4X2
	LAA007	LAA001	2X2
	LAA006	LAA002	2X2
	LAA010	LAA011	2X2
Axe Laâyoune-Tarfaya– Tan-tan	LAA900	BSC10	16X2
	LAA900	LAA901	16X2
	LAA901	LAA902	16X2
	LAA902	TAF001	16X2
	TAF001	LAA903	16X2
	LAA903	LAA904	16X2
	LAA904	LAA905	2X2
	LAA904	RTNT01	16X2
	RTNT01	LAA906	2X2
	RTNT01	LAA907	2X2
	RTNT01	LAA908	16X2
	LAA908	TNT102	16X2
Tan-Tan City	ELO001	TNT102	8X2
	TNT101	TNT102	8X2
	TNT002	TNT101	8X2
Tan-tan to Agadir	16E1 Capacity Connection
Assa - Marrakech	VSAT connection
Boujdour - Marrakech	VSAT connection
	VSAT connection