Morocco mobile coverage
Skip contentSubject: Problem moving a phone from Spain to Morocco
From: Noureddine
Date: February 6, 2005
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am glad to send you this message in order to give a solution to a SAGEM cell phone problem. The phone was working in Spain, but when I brought it to Morocco the system does not work at all. So I am asking you please, if you could tell me what should I do?
I would appreciate any kind of information that you could send me, and thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.
Yours sincerely, Noureddine
Reply:
Hi Noureddine,
In Morocco you use the 900 MHz GSM band, and if your phone is a dual band phone that works in Spain (they are usually 900/1800 MHz GSM), then it should work in Morocco.
There are several possible reasons why your phone does not work.
I understand that the phone network coverage is not complete in Morocco, and so if you are in a remote region, then you will not be able to get a signal if you are too far away from a transmitter. However, if you are in one of the main areas of population then this should not be a problem.
You say that the phone was working in Spain. I think this means that you have a SIM card fitted in the phone that was designed for use on the Spanish networks, for example you may have used:
Retevision Movil S.A. (AMENA)
Telefonica Moviles España S.A. (MOVISTAR)
Vodafone Espana S.A.
If you have a Spanish SIM card fitted in the phone, then you should have asked your Service Provider to allow you to use the phone for roaming in Morocco. The permission to allow roaming usually depends on your type of contract (pay as you go phones do not normally require any action, and will work in other countries). However, if you did not make arrangements with the Spanish Service Provider, then the networks in Morocco will not recognise your SIM card, and the phone will not work. Usually, all that is required is to make a phone call to the company that bills you - you can check out the details on the company website.
You do not say if you are staying in Morocco for a long time or a short time? If you are going to stay in Morocco, then I think it is a good idea for you to buy a new SIM card, so that you can use the phone on the Moroccan networks:
IAM - www.mobileiam.ma
Medi Telecom - www.meditel.ma
I suggest you go to a local shop that specialises in mobile phones, and buy a SIM card that is designed for use on the above Moroccan networks. I assume that you can buy SIM cards in Morocco without difficulty, but you will have to check what conditions apply and how much you will have to pay. Then if you visit Spain again you can apply to use the Moroccan SIM card for roaming in Spain.
You can see for yourself where roaming is possible at the GSM World website: www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_ma.shtml
I hope that I have been able to help you, but write again if you need more information.
Regards,
Mike S
Technical Consultant
