Morocco Travel Guide - Communications

Country code: 212. Privately run téléboutiques can be found throughout the country, with an attendant to provide advice, change and phonecards.

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is mainly available in the cities in the west of Morocco.

Access is widely available in business centres, hotels and in Internet cafes.

Airmail to Europe takes up to one week and can be unreliable.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1430-1830, Sat 0830-1400.

The press is subject to government censorship in Morocco, and although King Mohammed VI eased some restrictions on the press when he came to power, issues such as Western Sahara, the monarchy and corruption remain sensitive. The government manages Morocco's two television networks, although it plans to allow private investment in state-run broadcasters and the official news agency. Satellite dishes are widely used, giving access to a range of foreign TV stations.

WESTERN SAHARA:
National Radio of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic broadcasts in Arabic and Spanish; the station supports the Polisario Front.

• Daily newspapers are published in French and Arabic.
• The main French newspapers are: L'Economiste, Le Matin, Libération and Le Journal.
• The main Arabic newspapers are Al Anbaa and Assabah.

• Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) is state run while 2M is partly state owned.
• Al Maghribiya, a satellite channel operated by RTM and 2M, is aimed at Moroccans living abroad.

• State-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) has regional and national services.
• Tangier-based Medi 1 is privately owned by Moroccan and French concerns, and has programmes in Arabic and French.