Orange Morocco
{{Short description|Moroccan Internet provider and mobile network}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Orange Maroc
| logo = Orange logo.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| location = Morocco
| former_name = Méditel (1999–2016)
| industry = Telecommunications
| products = Mobile phone lines, 4G, Fiber-optic internet, Cybersecurity, Mobile payment
| homepage = [http://www.orange.ma orange.ma]
}}
Orange Maroc (or previously Meditel) is one of three major licensed telecommunications operators in Morocco. The multi-service operator offers mobile, fixed-line, cybersecurity and mobile payment offerings.
Created in 1999, it is the second operator of mobile telephony in Morocco. In December 2016, Meditel became Orange Maroc. The company employs 1,280 people and generates some 20,000 indirect jobs. The operator serves 14.2 million customers in Morocco and has nearly 450 shops across the country. It also owns a fibre network of more than 5,400 km and has more than 4,000 radio sites, covering more than 99% of the country's population.{{Cite web|title=Méditel rebrands as Orange in Morocco|url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3645803/m-ditel-rebrands-as-orange-in-morocco|website=Capacitymedia.com|date=9 December 2016 }}
History
Meditelecom was created in 1999 following a partnership between solid Moroccan investors, namely the Finance Com group and the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion, with Telefónica and Portugal Telecom (currently Altice Portugal) which held 32%,18% each.{{Cite web|title=Telefonica, Portugal Telecom exit Morocco|url=https://telecoms.com/14235/telefonica-portugal-telecom-exit-morocco/|website=Telecoms.com}}
In September 2009, the Moroccan groups Finance Com and Caisse de depot et de gestion bought back the shares of Telefónica and Portugal Telecom.{{cite web|url=http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/405481468338354061/pdf/691810ESW0P1200Broadband0in0Morocco.pdf|title=Broadband in Morocco: Political Will Meets Socio-Economic Reality|date=2011|author=Samantha Constant|website=Documents1.worldbank.org|access-date=9 April 2022}}
On 21 September 2010, Orange confirmed its acquisition of a stake in Meditel for an amount of 640 million euros, or 40% of the capital, and became a 49% shareholder in 2015.{{Cite web|title=Second Largest Telecom Operator Orange Maroc Publishes 2016 Results|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2017/04/213770/second-largest-telecom-operator-orange-maroc-publishes-2016-results/|website=Moroccoworldnews.com}}
Meditel became the first operator to market 4G services in Morocco when it introduced the technology in Casablanca in June 2015.{{Cite web|title=Orange Morocco launches LTE-A services|url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2018/02/26/orange-morocco-launches-lte-a-services/|website=CommsUpdate.com}}
In March 2016, as part of the group's unification under the "Orange" brand, Stéphane Richard, CEO of Orange, announced that Meditel will be renamed "Orange" before the end of 2016.{{Cite web|title=Meditel to Become Part of Orange Before End of This Year.|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2016/07/191244/meditel-to-become-part-of-orange-before-end-of-this-year/|website=Moroccoworldnews.com}}
On 8 December 2016, Meditel officially becomes Orange Maroc.{{Cite web|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2016/12/203262/french-telecom-provider-orange-takes-meditel|title=French Telecom Provider Orange Takes Over Meditel|website=Moroccoworldnews.com|access-date=9 April 2022}}
On 29 July 2020, Hendrik Kasteel, who until then held the position of managing director of MTN Cameroon, was appointed managing director of Orange Maroc.{{Cite web|title=A new CEO for Orange Morocco|url=https://www.archyde.com/a-new-ceo-for-orange-morocco/|website=Archyde.com|date=29 July 2020 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Moroccan telecommunications companies}}
{{Orange S.A.}}
{{Media in Morocco |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meditel}}
Category:2000 establishments in Morocco
Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2000