Maldives’ Internet Revolution: From Remote Atolls to a 5G-Powered Paradise

The Maldives is a geographically dispersed nation of around 1,200 islands spread across the Indian Ocean. Providing telecom and internet access to this archipelago has been a significant challenge historically. The country’s telecom journey began with a state monopoly: Dhiraagu was established in 1988 as the Maldives’ first and sole telecom operator​ Mfr. By the year 2000, basic telephone service reached all inhabited islands, and dial-up internet was available nationwide​ Itu. In the early 2000s, the government liberalized the sector to introduce competition and improve services. A second ISP license was issued in 2003 to Focus Infocom, breaking Dhiraagu’s internet monopoly​ Itu. In 2005, a second mobile operator entered the scene – Wataniya – ending Dhiraagu’s 17-year monopoly on mobile services​ Wikipedia. These steps set the stage for rapid expansion of telecom infrastructure across the islands.