Stay Online in Morocco: SIM cards and Internet

One of the first questions you ask while travelling and choosing a place is, “Is there free Wi-Fi here?”. As a digital nomad, I found it a huge hassle to depend on free wifi cafés and hotels to get online. Therefore, I am happy to share my practical tips that help you stay connected while travelling in Morocco. 

Sim cards in Morocco: where to buy

In Morocco, there are 3 mobile network operators: “Maroc Telecom”, “Orange” and “Inwi”. All operators offer similar deals and prices, so get the one that has an office closest to your hotel or on the way. Also, you can buy SIM cards from roving vendors wearing branded T-shirts of the mobile network. At least in Marrakech, I often see these vendors in Gueliz, next to the “Zara” store. The price of the SIM card is 30 DH. Or, save your time and buy a local SIM card in Moroccan airports.

To buy the Moroccan SIM card, you must show your passport. Then, after purchasing the prepaid SIM card, ask the seller to activate it and top up with some credit.

SIM cards in Morocco: plans

Almost all local operators offer similar plans. For 10 DH (around 1 euro), you can get 1 GB of data; for 50 DH – 5 GB etc. If you only need to use the Internet, ask the seller to recharge only for the Internet. If you top up without a unique code, in the end, you will only be able to call. And the opposite, if you recharge for the Internet, you can’t call.

All mobile network operators have special packages for both the Internet and calls. Ask them to explain what top-up is the best for your travel plans. Staying in Morocco for longer? Maybe it’s a good option to have a contract? I got a good contract deal from “Orange” company, and for only 99 DH/month (10 euros), I get 18 GB of Internet and 2 hours of local calls. You can pay/top-up your SIM directly through “Orange” mobile application; foreign cards are also accepted.

Where to buy credit?

You can buy SIM card credit at any small shop or supermarket. You will receive the top-up card with a code. Scratch the card to top up your credit, or, as I mentioned above, ask the seller to top up for you. In smaller shops, often, the seller asks for your phone number and sends the top-up instantly to your phone. Wait till you get the confirmation code on your phone, and it’s done!

WI-FI IN MOROCCO

In general, the Internet connection in Morocco is good. However, even though there is free wifi in many cities and places, the connection is not always reliable, especially in Medina-located hotels and mountain villages. Therefore, for work, I usually turn my phone into a Wi-Fi spot and can work anywhere I want.

Digital nomad in Marrakech?

What are the best places with good wifi to work remotely in Marrakech? In Morocco, it is not very common to bring your laptop to popular cafés. Only some cafes are adapted to digital nomads’ needs (sockets, more extensive tables, etc.).

Useful tips

• To call Morocco from overseas, dial the international access code + 212.
• In Morocco, almost everyone is using “WhatsApp”. It’s a convenient app to communicate with your riad or tour operator.
• Before coming to Morocco, download the offline Google Maps. I found it very convenient when the
• Internet connection is weak and you still need directions 😉
• Many hotels and riads don’t have a good Internet connection, especially in the rooms. So please don’t rely on their Internet for work; get the local SIM card and 4G deal.