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From: "Ahmed Hussain (ITSA)" <ahmed.hussain@dhiraagu.com.mv> To: Maria Dolores Lizarzaburu <mlizarza@uoregon.edu> Cc: "Steve Huter" <sghuter@nsrc.org> Time: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 10:09:38 +0500 Subject: RE: The current state of the Internet in Maldives >1. Could you please provide a brief technical description of >Maldives' external connectivity to the Internet - including upstream >provider(s), international bandwidth of the link(s), etc? There are TWO ISPs in the country. External connectivity is via satellite, both the providers have more than one satellite path to the Internet. I am not able to provide the bandwidth details as these are not publicly shared by both the providers. You may contact each ISP directly for this. >2. Please list the ISPs operating in the country, their URLs, and >contact information (URL, name and email address of an >administrative/technical contact). * DHIRAAGU - a venture between the Cable and Wireless of the United Kingdom and the Maldivian government, is the first and biggest operator in the company providing Telco services (PSTN, GSM and Internet Services) Internet services are operated with the name DHIVEHINET. Is also responsible for managing the CCTL for the Maldives. URL: www.dhiraagu.com.mv www.dhivehinet.net.mv Administrative contact: Mohamed Abdul Gadir Manager Internet and IP Solutions, DHIRAAGU. Gadir@dhiraagu.com.mv Technical Contact: Ahmed Hussain Systems Administrator, Internet and IP solutions, Dhiraagu Ahmed.hussain@dhiraagu.com.mv Technical Contact: Ismail Faiz Systems Engineer, Internet and IP solutions, DHIRAAGU Ismail.faiz@dhiraagu.com.mv * ROL - Locally owned provider. Specialized in Providing WIFI Internet services. URL: http://www.rol.net.mv >3. Do you know about any links to information about the academic >networking development in Maldives? http://www.ncit.gov.mv/ http://www.tam.gov.mv/ - the Telecoms Authority of the Maldives (Regulator) >4. What do you see as the prospects for Internet growth in Maldives; >what would help it, and what are currently the major obstacles? The major obstacle for the growth of Internet in the Maldives is due to lack proper connectivity upstream as well as from providers to near by islands. As Maldives is a bunch of small islands scattered all over separated by sea, service providers in the country find it difficult to provider proper connection to each and every island in the country. Mostly VSAT and micro-wave is used to provide connections to the islands - this has the disadvantage of poor service. The services thus offered in the islands is expensive as providers spend a lot in provisioning these VSAT or radio links. The Maldive government has given exclusive WIFI license to one of the providers, this make it impossible for any party interested in doing this business in the country. Currently DHIRAAGU is investing in laying submarine fiber cable between the Sri Lanka and Maldives. (http://www.dhiraagu.com.mv/newsdesk/index.php?newsid=479) The Maldives government is also working on a similar project. Ahmed Hussain <ahmed.hussain@dhiraagu.com.mv>
