Improving Communications in the Maldives Islands

The Maldives Islands based GSM operator, Dhiraagu has signed a US$ 10.4 million contract with Alcatel to expand and enhance its mobile service. Under this contract mobile coverage will be extended to new geographical areas in addition to expanding the network in the existing coverage areas and installing a second mobile switch to enhance network resiliency, redundancy and availability.

The contract was signed on behalf of Dhiraagu by the CEO Ismail Waheed and on behalf of Alcatel by the Area Sales Manager Mr. Denis Bouzac. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Ismail Waheed said, "Since we introduced GSM mobile service a few years ago, we have been extending coverage to new islands every year and investing continuously to expand the network capacity to meet the demand for this popular service. When the project that we have signed today is completed early next year Dhiraagu's mobile coverage will be available to the majority of the population of the country".

Dhiraagu has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sri Lanka Telecom for the implementation of an optical fibre submarine cable between Maldives and Sri Lanka. Dhiraagu's decision to lay its own submarine cable to Sri Lanka was reached after evaluating an alternate offer to join a consortium that provides connectivity between India and Maldives, which did not meet with the required technical, operational and commercial expectations."

Posted to the site on 28th September 2005