Is there phone signal in Morocco's medinas, the Atlas and the desert?
Network measurements show 5G in Marrakech and Essaouira, 4G+ in Chefchaouen and Imlil, and gaps in the upper Dades gorge and at the Toubkal summit. Where Orange Maroc reaches, place by place.
In the cities and most tourist towns, yes, often with 5G. In the high mountains and deep gorges, less. Crowd-sourced measurements on nPerf's map show Orange Maroc with 5G in the Marrakech and Essaouira medinas, 4G+ in Chefchaouen and in Imlil at the foot of Toubkal, and gaps in the upper Dades gorge and above the Toubkal refuge.
Our Morocco eSIM connects to Orange Maroc, the network measured here. Morocco launched 5G on 7 November 2025 with all three operators, mainly in cities.
Place by place, on Orange Maroc
| Place | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Marrakech medina | dense 5G and 4G+ |
| Essaouira medina | 5G and 4G+ throughout |
| Fès medina | 4G and 4G+ around it, few measurements in the core |
| Chefchaouen | mostly 4G+ |
| Ouarzazate | 5G in town |
| Aït Ben Haddou | 4G+ to 3G |
| Agafay desert | 4G+ along the road, few measurements at the camps |
| Imlil | 4G and 4G+ |
| Trail to the Toubkal refuge | a light 4G trace up the valley, none at the summit |
| Todra gorge | 4G+ up to the narrows, none beyond |
| Upper Dades gorge | no Orange measurements; Maroc Telecom shows some 4G+ |
| Merzouga and the dunes | see our Sahara guide |
These are crowd-sourced measurements updated in September 2026, not an official coverage map. An area without measurements is not proof of no signal.
WhatsApp and FaceTime calls
Morocco blocked internet calls in 2016 and lifted the ban on 4 November 2016. We found no official source saying a block has returned since, though some travellers report call quality varying. Messages work everywhere.
Quick answers
Is there 5G in Morocco?
Yes, since 7 November 2025, on all three operators, mainly in cities. Measurements show Orange 5G in Marrakech, Essaouira and Ouarzazate.
Is there signal in the Atlas Mountains?
In Imlil, yes, 4G and 4G+. On the trail to the Toubkal refuge, only a light trace, and no measurements at the summit.
Do WhatsApp calls work in Morocco?
The ban on internet calls was lifted in November 2016, and we found no official source saying it returned. Call quality can vary.
Sources: nPerf coverage map for Orange Maroc and Maroc Telecom (crowd-sourced, updated 21 September 2026), Developing Telecoms (10 November 2025), Ecofin Agency (9 November 2025), Al Arabiya (5 November 2016). Checked 21 September 2026.