Maldives Completes Historic Digital Transformation from Isolated Atolls to Fiber-Connected Nation
April 18, 2025
It used to be that one came here to get away from it all, but now even here you are connected. The Maldives, an archipelago of about 1,200 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, has completed a remarkable digital transformation that now provides high-speed internet access to even its most remote communities.
In January 2025, Dhiraagu, the country's largest telecommunications provider, announced a milestone achievement: the extension of fiber broadband service to all inhabited islands in the Maldives. This accomplishment makes the island nation one of the few countries worldwide able to claim 100% fiber coverage to all population centers.
The country's telecommunications journey began in 1988 with the establishment of Dhiraagu as the sole provider. By 2000, basic telephone service had reached all inhabited islands with limited dial-up internet access. The digital evolution accelerated in the early 2000s when the government liberalized the sector to introduce competition, issuing a second ISP license to Focus Infocom in 2003 and allowing Wataniya (later Ooredoo Maldives) to enter the mobile market in 2005.
Today, the Maldives enjoys impressive connectivity statistics, with mobile phone penetration exceeding 130% of the population and internet penetration at approximately 84%. The telecommunications market is primarily a duopoly between Dhiraagu and Ooredoo Maldives, with Focus Infocom and recently-licensed Starlink serving niche markets.
The most dramatic recent developments include the widespread deployment of 5G technology. The Maldives was an early adopter in South Asia, with Dhiraagu launching the first commercial 5G service in the region in 2019. As of 2024, users on Dhiraagu's 5G network experienced median download speeds of approximately 237 Mbps.
In August 2023, the government granted an ISP license to Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service. This development promises to further enhance connectivity, particularly for remote islands and seafaring vessels that might still face challenges with terrestrial networks.
The digital transformation is set to accelerate with the August 2024 landing of the SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable. This massive international cable will provide the Maldives with 100 Tbps of bandwidth capacity when it goes live in early 2026. For the first time, a Maldivian operator (Dhiraagu) is co-owning an international cable, giving the country direct access to multiple international exchange points without dependency on any single country.
The government is now focusing on leveraging this connectivity through its "Digital Maldives" initiative, which aims to implement smart island technologies. Planned innovations include drone delivery of medical supplies using 5G networks, smart traffic systems in the capital, and AI-powered environmental monitoring for climate adaptation.
This connectivity revolution is expected to have significant economic impacts, enhancing tourism services, enabling remote work and education, and potentially diversifying the economy beyond its traditional fishing and resort industries into digital sectors.
While challenges remain—including the relatively high cost of internet services compared to income levels—the government has taken steps to address affordability. In 2021, authorities pressured operators to cut prices by 20-30%, though internet access still consumes about 2.6% of average monthly income, above the UN recommended 2% threshold.
For a nation that once relied on dial-up connections in capital city cybercafés, the transformation to nationwide 5G and fiber connectivity represents a remarkable achievement, connecting even the most remote atolls to the global digital economy.
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Maldives’ Internet Revolution: From Remote Atolls to a 5G-Powered Paradise
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