Morocco 5G Type Approval: ANRT Now Requests Samples

Morocco 5G Type Approval: ANRT Begins Requesting Equipment Samples for 5G Network Compatibility Testing

Morocco's National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) has begun requesting a physical sample for equipment operating with 5G as part of the type approval process. A compatibility test is performed on the sample to determine whether the device complies with Morocco's 5G network.

ANRT has not yet issued an official communication on this requirement. The change is being applied in practice to current applications, so manufacturers and importers with 5G products destined for Morocco should factor it into their planning now and adjust once the agency publishes formal guidance.

Regulatory background

Type approval (agrément) from ANRT is mandatory before radio and telecommunications terminal equipment can be imported, sold or used in Morocco. Until now, the process has been largely documentation-based: applicants submit test reports, a declaration of conformity and technical documentation through a local representative, and physical samples were generally not part of a standard application.

Three developments explain why 5G equipment is now treated differently:

• Technical specifications. Decision ANRT/DG/N°12/23 of 22 May 2023 added 5G to Morocco's type approval specifications, set 4G (LTE) as the minimum for cellular user equipment and required that 5G user equipment be 5G Standalone (SA) compatible.

• Authority to request samples. ANRT's updated type approval rules, reported by compliance trackers as Decision 16-24 with provisions effective 1 May 2025, allow the agency to request samples for testing at the applicant's expense and to retain them afterwards.

• A live 5G network. ANRT awarded 5G licences to Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and inwi in July 2025, and all three launched commercial 5G services on 7 November 2025. With networks in operation, device compatibility can be verified in real conditions.

What is changing in Morocco 5G type approval

Item	Detail
Requirement	Submission of one physical sample of the equipment to ANRT
Trigger	Any equipment compatible with 5G
Purpose	Compatibility test to determine compliance with the Moroccan 5G network
Legal status	Applied in practice; no official ANRT communication published yet
Still to be confirmed	Number of samples, test scope and location, testing fees, processing time, return of samples, treatment of product families and existing approvals

The requirement is tied to 5G capability, not to a product category. It can therefore affect smartphones, tablets, 5G routers and CPE, mobile hotspots, laptops with 5G modems, cellular modules and IoT or industrial gateways with a 5G interface.

Certification impact summary

Aspect	Previous practice	Current practice for 5G equipment
Assessment method	Document review	Document review plus compatibility test on a sample
Physical sample	Generally not required	Required
In-country testing	Not required	5G network compatibility test
Lead time	Document review only	Longer; add time for shipping, customs clearance and testing
Cost	ANRT fees and local representation	Add sample units, shipping and import handling, plus any testing costs
Sample return	Not applicable	Not guaranteed; ANRT may retain samples
Non-5G equipment (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G only)	Documentation-based	No change reported
Existing 5G approvals	Valid	No retroactive measure announced; to be confirmed
Local representative, labelling, SAR display	Required	Unchanged

What this means for manufacturers

Morocco is no longer a paperwork-only market for 5G products. Launch plans that assumed a documentation-based approval need to be revised to include sample logistics and test time.

Device configuration becomes a certification risk. A compatibility test on a live network can fail for reasons unrelated to RF conformity, for example if 5G is disabled in the firmware for Moroccan operators, if the device is network-locked, or if it does not support the bands and the SA mode used in Morocco. The sample should be configured exactly as it will be sold in the country.

Costs and inventory should be budgeted per model. Because samples may be retained, treat them as consumed units, which is especially relevant for high-value or pre-release hardware.

Portfolio decisions may shift. Where a product is sold in both 4G and 5G variants, each 5G variant should be assumed to need its own sample until ANRT clarifies its approach to product families.

Guidance may change. Since the requirement has not been formalized, procedures can vary from one application to the next. Close coordination with the local representative is the most reliable source of current practice.

Timeline and required actions

Timeline

Date	Milestone
22 May 2023	Decision ANRT/DG/N°12/23 adds 5G to type approval specifications; 5G user equipment must be SA compatible
1 May 2025	Updated type approval and labelling rules apply; ANRT may request and retain samples
July 2025	ANRT awards 5G licences to Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and inwi
7 November 2025	Commercial 5G services launch in Morocco
October 2026	ANRT begins requesting samples of 5G equipment for compatibility testing
To be announced	Official ANRT communication with detailed procedures

Required actions

When	Action
Now	Identify every 5G-capable product planned for Morocco, including pending and upcoming ANRT applications
Now	Reserve at least one production-equivalent sample per model, with power supply and accessories
Before shipping	Confirm the sample is unlocked, has final firmware, and has 5G enabled for Moroccan operators, including SA mode
Before shipping	Arrange import of the sample with your local representative, including customs documentation
At submission	File the usual technical dossier (RF, EMC, safety and SAR reports, declaration of conformity, datasheet, manual) together with the sample
During review	Allow additional time in launch schedules and avoid committing to shipment dates until approval is issued
Ongoing	Monitor ANRT's website for the official communication and adjust the process once details are confirmed