Ooredoo Maldives extends FttP services to more than 40 islandsAlthough the Maldives has a population of only 360,000 the telecom market is bolstered by the considerable influx of tourists. Steady growth in recent years has attracted international investment, including the Qatar-based Ooredoo Group. The vibrant tourist sector helps to account for the unusually high mobile penetration rate, though multiple SIM card use is also widely adopted. In addition a large number of expatriate workers require SIM cards on a semi-temporary basis
The two licensed operators, Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun (Dhiraagu) and Ooredoo Maldives, have both invested in HSPA and LTE infrastructure, providing coverage to all populated islands. Dhiraagu in late 2018 also demonstrated 5G. These developments have encouraged the take-up of mobile broadband services among subscribers. Both operators also provide fixed-line services.
The country has given priority to telecom infrastructure upgrades, with considerable success. There is a well-developed national network, though investment has been concentrated in the capital Malé as well as in the tourist resort islands. The submarine cable connection to Sri Lanka improved international bandwidth and helped reduce access pricing for end-users. A second submarine cable linked the archipelago to India in 2006. Additional cables linking the main atolls has substantially strengthened domestic connectivity. This was augmented by a new inter-island National Submarine Cable network contracted by Ooredoo Maldives: the 1,200km nationwide system, which came into service at the end of 2016, supports traffic demand arising from increased use of mobile broadband and fibre. In 2016 international internet bandwidth increased 37%.
Key developments:
Ooredoo Maldives extends SuperNet FttP service to more than 40 islands;
Dhiraagu completes upgrade of the fixed broadband network in Malé, trials 5G services;
Ooredoo and Huawei Marine complete nationwide submarine cable project;
Ooredoo Maldives completes IPO;
Report update includes the regulator’s market data to October 2018, operator data to Q3 2018, recent market developments.Companies mentioned in this report:Dhiraagu, Wataniya, Ooredoo Maldives, Focus Infocom, Thuraya, Cable & Wireless Communications.
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1. Key statistics
2. Country overview
3. Telecommunications market
3.1 Historical overview
4. Regulatory environment
4.1 Regulatory authority
4.2 Telecommunications plans
4.3 Telecom sector liberalisation
4.4 Telecommunications Regulation 2003
5. Fixed network operator
6. Telecommunications infrastructure
6.1.1 Domestic satellite service
6.2 International infrastructure
6.2.1 Satellite networks
6.2.2 Submarine cable networks
7. Fixed-line broadband market
7.1 Government Network of the Maldives (GNM)
7.2 Broadband statistics
7.3 Fixed-line broadband technologies
7.3.1 Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
7.3.2 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
7.3.3 Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
7.3.4 Other fixed broadband services
7.3.5 Satellite internet
8. Mobile market
8.1 Market analysis
8.2 Mobile statistics
8.3 Regulatory issues
8.3.1 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
8.4 Mobile broadband
8.5 Mobile infrastructure
8.5.1 5G
8.5.2 4G (LTE)
8.5.3 3G
8.6 Major mobile operators
8.6.1 Dhiraagu (DhiMobile)
8.6.2 Ooredoo Maldives (formerly Wataniya Telecom)
9. Related reportsList of Tables
Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Maldives – 2018 (e)
Table 2 – Maldives’ GDP real growth rate – 2006 - 2018
Table 3 – Dhiraagu financial data – 2013 - 2018
Table 4 – Historical - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 - 2009
Table 5 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 - 2018
Table 6 – International internet bandwidth – 1999 - 2016
Table 7 – Historical - Internet users – 1996 - 2009
Table 8 – Internet users – 2010 - 2018
Table 9 – Fixed broadband subscribers – 2002 - 2018
Table 10 – Cable modem subscribers – 2005 - 2018
Table 11 – DSL subscribers – 2002 - 2018
Table 12 – FttP subscribers – 2009 - 2018
Table 13 – Historical - Mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2009
Table 14 – Mobile subscribers – 2010 - 2018
Table 15 – Postpaid and prepaid mobile subscribers – 2012 - 2018
Table 16 – Mobile operators and service launch
Table 17 – Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 - 2018
Table 18 – Ooredoo Maldives fixed wireless subscribers – 2015 - 2018
Table 19 – Dhiraagu mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2015
Table 20 – Ooredoo Maldives mobile subscribers – 2006 - 2018
Table 21 – Ooredoo Maldives financial data – 2011 - 2018
Table 22 – Ooredoo Maldives blended ARPU – 2011 - 2018List of Charts
Chart 1 – Dhiraagu financial data – 2013 – 2018
Chart 2 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2006 – 2018
Chart 3 - Internet users - 2005 – 2018
Chart 4 - Mobile subscribers - 2005 - 2018
Chart 5 – Postpaid and prepaid mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2018
Chart 6 – Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2018
Chart 7 – Ooredoo Maldives financial data – 2011 – 2018
