Company Facts

Dhiraagu is the only full-service telecommunications provider in the Maldives. The company has adapted well to the market liberalisation and continues to be the country's leading provider of fixed-line, mobile and internet services.

Dhiraagu is a significant contributor to the national income and socio-economic development activities of the Maldives. With over 630 employees, and a nationwide service presence by way of 9 strategically located operating centres outside of Male', Dhiraagu stays closer to its customers across the country. Dhiraagu has overcome the geographic barriers with its distribution network of 24 wholesale distributors, 32 exclusive partners, 87 non-exclusive partners and over 2,600 retailers across the country. Dhiraagu provides fixed-line access, which includes telephone and internet, and mobile network coverage to all of the country's 199 inhabited islands, all resort islands and all major industrial islands and operates an international gateway providing IDD services.

• Revenues: MVR 2.55 Billion (For 15 months for the period ending 31st March 2011)
• Net Profit: MVR 968 Million (For 15 months for the period ending 31st March 2011)
• Workforce: more than 630 employees (March 2011)
• Listed in Maldives Stock Exchange
• Headquarters in Male’, Maldives

The Dhiraagu Head Office in Male’ (under construction)

Business Description and Principal Activities

Dhiraagu provides the following key telecommunications services:

• Mobile. By both market share and coverage, Dhiraagu is the country’s largest and leading mobile operator with a market share of 79 % Dhiraagu offers a wide range of mobile services, including voice services, GPRS EDGE and 3G data services (including SMS, MMS, video calling and mobile Internet) and GSM/GPRS/3G international roaming services. Dhiraagu's 2G network covers all inhabited islands, all resorts and major industrial islands, and it’s 3G/HSDPA network currently serves 89 islands including Male' covering a majority of the Maldivian population while work is ongoing to rollout 3G service to additional inhabited islands and resorts.
• Internet. Dhiraagu is the leading Internet service provider (by market share and coverage) in the Maldives, with a market share of approximately 79% for its fixed internet service. The Company offers broadband ADSL Internet, dedicated Internet access, WiFi based internet access and Mobile Internet on its 2G/3G network. Dhiraagu augments its basic Internet services by offering various value-added services, such as web-hosting services and POP e-mail services. In addition, Dhiraagu offers "Enterprise Solutions & Managed Services" to the Government, large corporate customers and a majority of the resorts.
• Fixed-line. Dhiraagu's fixed-line services offered through PSTN/ISDN lines include primary voice and value-added services. Fixed-line access is available on all inhabited, resort and industrial islands. Residential fixed-lines are available on 13 key islands, which together represents approximately half of the Maldivian population.

Organisation structure

Corporate Governance

Dhiraagu believes vibrant and dynamic Corporate Governance practices are essential ingredient to success. Board of Directors and the Management Team of Dhiraagu are committed to maintaining effective Corporate Governance through a culture of accountability, transparency, well-understood policies and procedures. With the principal shareholder being CWC, Dhiraagu has given importance to committing to good corporate governance practices with the fundamental premise of increasing transparency and sound management. Prior to the Company adopting its own Corporate Governance Code, Dhiraagu followed various Group policies to ensure that it was compliant with the CWC governance framework.

The Board of Directors sets the strategic direction and guides the corporate values based on inputs and recommendations by the CEO. The Board of Directors deliberates on the ‘Annual Operating Plan’ and the ‘Annual Budget’ at Board meetings. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Directors reviews the business and financial performance of the Company against the ‘Annual Operating Plan’ and the ‘Annual Budget’. This process helps the Board to focus on strategic direction on all areas of the Company covering products, risk management, compliance and human resource development. Creating value for shareholders in the day-to-day management is the responsibility of the CEO and the Senior Management Team.

In addition Dhiraagu has the following cross-functional management committees for key review and approval of key management decisions and programs. These committees meet weekly or monthly.

• Capital Review Board – for review and approval for Capital Expenditure.
• Customer experience Board - for review of key customer facing issues and review of Customer Experience Performance Matrix.
• Commercial Committee – for review and approval of new products, tariffs, promotions, product performance and marketing plan.
• Human Resource Development Board – for review and approval of key HR policies, employee benefits and training and development plans.
• OPEX Review – for review of monthly operational expenditure of cost-centers.
• Strategic Committee – for review and approval of corporate strategy, business plans and contingency plans.
• Disclosure Committee – for assessing whether a information is potentially Price Sensitive; deciding whether information should be disclosed to the market; and reviewing the Company’s periodic disclosure documents and media announcement before release to the market;

In addition to this, for execution of major projects, teams are formed with specialist staff from across the organisation.

Read more about Corporate Responsibility in Dhiraagu

Download Corporate Governance Code of Dhiraagu