Dhiraagu is pleased to announce that the Maldives' first domestic submarine cable connecting two atolls, has been fully completed by Dhiraagu and put into service.

The domestic submarine cable established between Laamu Gan and Gaafu Dhaal Gadhdhoo is the last part of Dhiraagu's main submarine cable network project, and connects the two atolls using a 238km fiber optic submarine cable. This link connects the southern region with the rest of the atolls of the Maldives, previously achieved using a satellite connection only.

The cable laid between Laamu Gan and Gaafu Dhaal Gadhdhoo would enable superior quality of service for Dhiraagu customers and especially for those in the southern region.

Compared with the previous service quality experienced by customers in this region during the use of satellite connection, the establishment of the service using fiber optic submarine cable would now enhance customer experiences on service quality both on voice calls using fixed lines and mobile, and data services such as GPRS, and broadband Internet. The fiber links will also be immune from service interruptions due to natural phenomena such as 'sun interference' when using satellites.

Dhiraagu Submarine Cable Network project commenced on 01 May 2006, with the signing of the agreement with the submarine cable system supplier, and since then had proceeded with astonishing speed.

The international cable linking Maldives and Sri Lanka reached the landing station at Maldives on 14 November 2006 and was quickly followed by the additional domestic links that were established between Hulhumale and Male', Male' and Kaafu Villingili, and proceeding to the first inter-atoll domestic submarine cable connection in the Maldives.

The initial phase of the project was completed on 12 December 2006, making history in the Maldives with the launching of service on the very first international submarine cable installed between Maldives and the rest of the world, connecting Maldives to an international submarine cable station in Sri Lanka.

The completion of this USD 27 million project, which includes the international and domestic links, is going to result in higher quality of service for all Dhiraagu customers.

Dhiraagu submarine cable network will greatly assist towards the development of inter-atoll communications and the overall communication services in the Maldives. The completion of the domestic cable across the One and Half Degree Channel (between Laamu Gan and Gaafu Dhaal Gadhdhoo) marks another important milestone in the history of telecommunications in the Maldives, as the biggest challenge in providing uniform communication in the country has been overcome by Dhiraagu.

Chief Executive of Dhiraagu, Mr Ismail Rasheed, stated that 'this is yet another great milestone achieved by Dhiraagu, delivering our promise to constantly improve the quality of service provided to our customers'.

An official ceremony for launching of Dhiraagu domestic submarine cable network will be held during next month.


Media contact for more information
Mohamed Mirshan Hassan
Manager Marketing Communications and Public Relations
Phone: 3311336