Dhiraagu has signed a contract with a value of over Rf 47 million with Alcatel of France for the supply and implementation of a Global System for Mobile (GSM) Mobile Telephone System for the Maldives.

The contract was signed on 1st June 1999 at a ceremony held at Nasandhura Palace Hotel by the General Manager of Dhiraagu Mr. Bob Ure, on behalf of Dhiraagu and Mr. Yannick Bourdeu Cellular Sales Director, on behalf of Alcatel.

The GSM system is an advanced digital cellular mobile communications system that is used in more than 120 countries and has over 150 million subscribers worldwide.

The new GSM system will replace the existing analogue system. The new system will provide our customers with improved geographic coverage, voice quality and added security.

The General Manager of Dhiraagu Mr. Bob Ure said, "This new system will bring the Maldives up to the most modern standards in mobile telephony, and will greatly improve Dhiraagu's services to our customers."

The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Hussein Shareef, Director General, Telecoms Department, Mr. Alain Ferrasse-Pale Business Area Vice President, Alcatel, Mr. Ian Shepherd Head of Services Dhiraagu, Mr Ismail Waheed Head of Networks Dhiraagu, Ms. Jacqueline Holding Head of Finance Dhiraagu, Mr. Ibrahim Didi Head of Administration and Personnel Dhiraagu, Mr. Ismail Rasheed Manager Network Planning and Projects Dhiraagu, Mr. Ian Reidy, Divisional Manager Mobile Dhiraagu and Dr. Hassan Shafeeu, Dhiraagu Project Manager for GSM Network Implementation.

In addition to over RF47 million Dhiraagu will spend with Alcatel, Dhiraagu will also spend over Rf 43 million on the GSM billing system and GSM infrastructure, a total investment of over RF90 million, to provide this state of the art service which is to be launched towards the end of 1999.

Dhiraagu will announce the details of this new service in the near future.

Notes to editors:

Alcatel is a leading vendor of telecommunications systems and has supplied cellular systems to over 40 countries, representing a capacity in excess of 15 million subscribers.


Issued by:
Dhiraagu Marketing Communications & Public Relations