Corporate Profile

Since beginning operations in 1988 as the national telecommunications carrier of the Maldives, Dhiraagu has rapidly built a sound, financially strong business based on a commitment to providing innovative products and services and a philosophy that places high value on customer satisfaction.

Dhiraagu today owns and operates a fully digital communications network reaching every inhabited island and tourist resort Maldives. Due to the geography of the country, the network backbone is primarily a microwave radio system using a combination of Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy(PDH) technology. Service to the Southern Atolls is extended via satellite with a PDH microwave backbone network interconnecting the islands in the region. The network uses Signalling System 7 (SS7) enabling a host of new services to be introduced easily.

In the business world, we carry data locally, nationally and globally on our fibre - optic, mobile and satellite networks. Dhiraagu has a well established relationship and a proven record in providing corporate customers with reliable network solutions and superior account support in the rapidly changing market place.

Dhiraagu is a major owner of infrastructure in the Maldives and continues to invest to develop and enhance the telecommunications of the country. Dhiraagu has invested over Rf1.6 billion and employs over 500 Maldivian's. Over the next three years we will be investing a further Rf 700million, reflecting the company's continued commitment to delivering modern world-class communication services to our customers.

Products and Services

Dhiraagu offers a comprehensive range of fixed, mobile, Internet and data services throughout the Maldives including installation, maintenance and repair of all the services.

Fixed Line Services
In 1999, Dhiraagu successfully completed providing fixed line access to all 200 inhabited islands in the country, overcoming almost insurmountable geographical and logistical challenges. Today every inhabitant in the Maldives is within easy walking distance of a telephone. There are over 130 lines per 100 households in Male' and approximately 40 lines per 100 households in other islands with residential telephone service. This equates to 1 telephone per 9 of population nationally and 1 telephone for every 3 persons in the capital - the highest in South Asia.

GSM Services
The DhiMobile GSM service was introduced in October 1999. Originally available in the islands in the Male' area, coverage has since been extended to all 88 tourist resorts and more than 105 inhabited islands covering over 73% of the population .Today 1 in 2 adults in the country use a GSM phone.

Dhiraagu offers a number of value added services such as SMS, CallerID,Fixed Line Services GSM Services Fax and Data, Voicemail, FaxMail and Pre-Paid service. GSM International Roaming service is available with over 189 operators in more than 75 countries allowing over 75% of visitors to the Maldives to use their mobile phone in the Maldives.

Internet Services
Dhiraagu introduced Internet service to the Maldives in October 1996, initially via dial-up at up to 28.8kbps. Since then the service has been enhanced continuously, offering customers higher access speeds, multiple access options and reduced cost of Internet usage. Today our customers have a choice of high quality PSTN and ISDN dial-up,dedicated leased connections, ADSL broadband and two-way direct satellite access to suit their requirements and budgets. Public Internet access is available to over 40% of the population through CyberCafes directly operated by Dhiraagu across the country. On a further 60 islands, public Internet access is offered by private parties in partnership with Dhiraagu.

In addition to nationwide Internet access, Domain Name and WebHosting services are available to all customers.

Our Customers

Our customers include residential users, small to medium business, corporate and the Government. Each has specific needs ranging from a simple telephone service for a residential customer to a complex integrated private networking solution for a global corporate customer. Dhiraagu takes pride in our ability to satisfy all our customers' information communication requirements.

Dhiraagu places much emphasis on listening to our customers with the objective of improving our products and services and thereby delivering improved 'value for money'. Continuous customer feedback is collected, analysed and acted upon to ensure our services meet the needs of our customers. In simplified terms, our customers' feedback has become the driver of Dhiraagu's business enhancement process.

Our Customer Service

A state-of-the art Customer Service Centre offers telephone support to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dedicated Sales Managers and Sales Executives are assigned to key customer accounts ensuring a high level of personalized service to these important customers. Located throughout the length and breadth of the Maldives are Dhiraagu Customer Support Teams that can be rapidly dispatched for installations and repairs when ever required.

Today, with 9 well equipped regional centres, over 500 dedicated Maldivian staff and our own fleet of land and ocean vessels strategically located across the country, approximately 98% of all new lines are installed within 10 days of application and 94%of all faults on telephone lines are fixed within 24 hours.

Our Staff

We strongly believe that qualified and motivated staff is the key to ensuring our success in the long term. Therefore training of staff is given a very high priority with Dhiraagu spending over Rf10 million every year on staff training in both technical and non-technical areas. In addition, refresher sessions on essential skills such as customer care and communications are held regularly. Competitive salary and other product related benefits are offered to retain and motivate staff.

Our role in the community

Dhiraagu takes pride in active involvement in the community in which we serve. As a truly Maldivian company, we strongly identify with the community and regularly contribute to worthy causes such as education, health and children's development. We also actively support the island communities in their social activities.

Dhiraagu and the Environment

We fully recognize the importance of sustainable development and caring for the delicate environment of our islands and special care is taken to minimise the likelihood of damage to the environment resulting from our activities. Dhiraagu is the largest user of solar power in the Maldives with solar energy being used as the primary source of power in over 80% of the network distribution sites across the country.

In addition, as the national information communications provider "bridging the Maldives", we bring environmental benefits to our customers through reductions in travel and the use of electronic communications.