Dhiraagu (Dhivehi: ދިރާގު) is the first Maldiviantelecommunications company, which was founded in 1988. The company was created as a joint venture of the Maldivian government and Cable & Wireless and had a monopoly on the entire industry in the country until 2005, and retained a monopoly on fixed telephony and the exclusive right to terminate incoming international traffic on any network until the end of 2008.
Though Dhiraagu is the first Maldivian telecommunications company, it's not the first to start the service. Telecommunication service in the Maldives was officially started on 23 December 1943, provided by the Maldivian government. On 17 May 1977 Cable & Wireless started its operations as the telecom provider. Later, in 1988, Cable and Wireless and the government of the Maldives formed a joint venture company, Dhiraagu (55% owned by the Government of Maldives and 45% by Cable and Wireless), making it the first ever Maldivian telecommunications company. Later it became a public company[2][3] and currently the Maldivian government holds a 41.8% share in the company, while 52% is owned by Batelco and 6.2% is owned by the general public.
Significant events
Original logo. This logo was replaced by the logo of the company's first rebrand on June 23, 2005.
1988 – Dhiraagu was officially established on October 1, 1988.[4]
1989 – Major upgrade of copper network in the capital.
1999 – Mobile phone service's platform changed to GSM.
2005 – On June 23, Dhiraagu rebranded and introduced a new logo.
2006
Dhiraagu introduces ADSL services to Maldives.
On 25 February, Dhiraagu initiated/sponsored a successful world record attempt: the most people scuba diving simultaneously on a single site, with 979 people participating.[5]
Dhiraagu connects a submarine cable with Sri Lanka.
2010 – Dhiraagu introduces 3G HSPA services to Maldives.
2013 – Dhiraagu introduces 4G LTE services to Maldives.
2014 – Dhiraagu introduces VDSL services to Maldives under the brand name "UltraFast Broadband".
2015 – Dhiraagu introduces streaming TV[6] services to Maldives under the brand name "DhiraaguTV".
2015 – Dhiraagu Introduces FTTH services[7] to Maldives under the brand name "Dhiraagu Fiber Broadband".
Dhiraagu commercially launched LTE Advanced[8] for the first time in Maldives and the first in South Asia.
2017 – On May 25, Dhiraagu rebranded and introduced a new logo and the slogan "Take On Tomorrow".[9]
Tier 2 network
On September 18, 2005 Dhiraagu signed an agreement with SLTMobitel for an Optical Submarine Cable System. Under the agreement, both companies will invest in maintaining the cable. The actual work of laying the 837 km cable was done by NEC of Japan, under a contract valued at US$22.7 million.[10] On November 14, 2006 the cable was connected to a landing site at Hulhumale', Maldives.[11] This Tier 2 network has an initial transmission capacity of 3 Giga bit per second (Gbit/s), which is capable of being increased to up to 160 Gbit/s. The system adopts WDM, or Wavelength Division Multiplexing. This is the second submarine cable connecting Maldives to the world.[10]
Criticism
Dhiraagu held a monopoly on the telecoms market in the Maldives from its creation until 2005, a situation it is accused of having created and maintained. Until 2004, the Telecommunications Authority of Maldives had refrained from issuing additional licenses to other companies, preventing any competition to all of the telecom services provided by Dhiraagu. This status quo may have been deliberately retained by the Maldivian government in an effort to profit from Dhiraagu's revenues, as it partly owns the company.
Dhiraagu was also heavily criticized for what the public describes as absurdly high prices during the 1980s and 1990s. Foreseeing competition and regular criticism from the public, the company lowered service prices in the mid- to late-2000s.[citation needed]
^41.8% owned by the Maldivian government, 52% owned by Batelco, 6.2% owned by other public shareholders
^"Financial Reports - Investor Relations". Dhiraagu. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
^"Dhiraagu re-registered as a Public Limited Company". www.dhiraagu.com.mv. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
^"The Government of Maldives launches Dhiraagu IPO Prospectus". www.dhiraagu.com.mv. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
^"Milestones And Achievements". www.dhiraagu.com.mv. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
^"Maldives World Diving Record with XL 700 - WaveRunner (PWC)". YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD. February 2006. from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^"DhiraaguTV – The Only TV Service Available on Mobile & FixedBroad Band". www.dhiraagu.com.mv. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
^"Dhiraagu Launches UltraFast Broadband Service to Hulhumale' & Villimale'". www.dhiraagu.com.mv. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
^"Dhiraagu Introduces LTE-Advanced for the First Time in Maldives". www.dhiraagu.com.mv. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
^"Dhiraagu – Maldives No. 1 Telecommunication Service Provider". www.dhiraagu.com.mv. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
^ ab. NEC. Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2007.
^. Haveeru. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2007.
External links
Official Dhiraagu website
January 07, 2023
dhiraagu, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2017, learn, when. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Dhiraagu news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dhiraagu Dhivehi ދ ރ ގ is the first Maldivian telecommunications company which was founded in 1988 The company was created as a joint venture of the Maldivian government and Cable amp Wireless and had a monopoly on the entire industry in the country until 2005 and retained a monopoly on fixed telephony and the exclusive right to terminate incoming international traffic on any network until the end of 2008 Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun PLCTrade nameDhiraaguNative nameދ ރ ގ TypePublic a IndustryTelecommunicationsFounded16 May 1988 34 years ago 1988 05 16 incorporated 1 October 1988 34 years ago 1988 10 01 commenced operations HeadquartersMale MaldivesKey peopleMr Ismail Rasheed CEO ProductsFixed telephonyMobile telephonyBroadbandRevenueMVR 251 05 million 1 Q3 2019 Net incomeMVR 203 053 million Q3 2019 Number of employees430 full timeWebsitedhiraagu wbr com wbr mvThe name Dhiraagu is an acronym for Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun Dhivehi ދ ވ ހ ރ އ ޖ ގ ގ ޅ ނ lit Connection of Maldives Dhiraagu maintains one of the world s longest microwave links over water This 65 km link across the equator connects Fuvahmulah and Gaafu Dhaalu and therefore Gaafu Alifu atoll Contents 1 History 1 1 Significant events 2 Tier 2 network 3 Criticism 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Dhiraagu front office circa 1990 To left is the flag of Cable amp Wireless Communications and to right is Flag of Maldives Though Dhiraagu is the first Maldivian telecommunications company it s not the first to start the service Telecommunication service in the Maldives was officially started on 23 December 1943 provided by the Maldivian government On 17 May 1977 Cable amp Wireless started its operations as the telecom provider Later in 1988 Cable and Wireless and the government of the Maldives formed a joint venture company Dhiraagu 55 owned by the Government of Maldives and 45 by Cable and Wireless making it the first ever Maldivian telecommunications company Later it became a public company 2 3 and currently the Maldivian government holds a 41 8 share in the company while 52 is owned by Batelco and 6 2 is owned by the general public Significant events Edit Original logo This logo was replaced by the logo of the company s first rebrand on June 23 2005 1988 Dhiraagu was officially established on October 1 1988 4 1989 Major upgrade of copper network in the capital 1991 Paging service introduced 1996 Dial up internet service was introduced to Maldives for the first time under the brand name DhivehiNet 1997 Mobile phone service was introduced with Advanced Mobile Phone System Technologies 1999 Mobile phone service s platform changed to GSM 2005 On June 23 Dhiraagu rebranded and introduced a new logo 2006 Dhiraagu introduces ADSL services to Maldives On 25 February Dhiraagu initiated sponsored a successful world record attempt the most people scuba diving simultaneously on a single site with 979 people participating 5 Dhiraagu connects a submarine cable with Sri Lanka Dhiraagu establishes domestic fiber optic submarine cable 2010 Dhiraagu introduces 3G HSPA services to Maldives 2013 Dhiraagu introduces 4G LTE services to Maldives 2014 Dhiraagu introduces VDSL services to Maldives under the brand name UltraFast Broadband 2015 Dhiraagu introduces streaming TV 6 services to Maldives under the brand name DhiraaguTV 2015 Dhiraagu Introduces FTTH services 7 to Maldives under the brand name Dhiraagu Fiber Broadband Dhiraagu commercially launched LTE Advanced 8 for the first time in Maldives and the first in South Asia 2017 On May 25 Dhiraagu rebranded and introduced a new logo and the slogan Take On Tomorrow 9 Tier 2 network EditOn September 18 2005 Dhiraagu signed an agreement with SLTMobitel for an Optical Submarine Cable System Under the agreement both companies will invest in maintaining the cable The actual work of laying the 837 km cable was done by NEC of Japan under a contract valued at US 22 7 million 10 On November 14 2006 the cable was connected to a landing site at Hulhumale Maldives 11 This Tier 2 network has an initial transmission capacity of 3 Giga bit per second Gbit s which is capable of being increased to up to 160 Gbit s The system adopts WDM or Wavelength Division Multiplexing This is the second submarine cable connecting Maldives to the world 10 Criticism EditDhiraagu held a monopoly on the telecoms market in the Maldives from its creation until 2005 a situation it is accused of having created and maintained Until 2004 the Telecommunications Authority of Maldives had refrained from issuing additional licenses to other companies preventing any competition to all of the telecom services provided by Dhiraagu This status quo may have been deliberately retained by the Maldivian government in an effort to profit from Dhiraagu s revenues as it partly owns the company Dhiraagu was also heavily criticized for what the public describes as absurdly high prices during the 1980s and 1990s Foreseeing competition and regular criticism from the public the company lowered service prices in the mid to late 2000s citation needed See also EditTelecommunications in the MaldivesReferences Edit 41 8 owned by the Maldivian government 52 owned by Batelco 6 2 owned by other public shareholders Financial Reports Investor Relations Dhiraagu Retrieved 9 February 2022 Dhiraagu re registered as a Public Limited Company www dhiraagu com mv Retrieved 24 May 2017 The Government of Maldives launches Dhiraagu IPO Prospectus www dhiraagu com mv Retrieved 24 May 2017 Milestones And Achievements www dhiraagu com mv Retrieved 24 May 2017 Maldives World Diving Record with XL 700 WaveRunner PWC YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD February 2006 Archived from the original on 13 September 2021 Retrieved 13 September 2021 DhiraaguTV The Only TV Service Available on Mobile amp FixedBroad Band www dhiraagu com mv Retrieved 24 May 2017 Dhiraagu Launches UltraFast Broadband Service to Hulhumale amp Villimale www dhiraagu com mv Retrieved 24 May 2017 Dhiraagu Introduces LTE Advanced for the First Time in Maldives www dhiraagu com mv Retrieved 24 May 2017 Dhiraagu Maldives No 1 Telecommunication Service Provider www dhiraagu com mv Retrieved 24 May 2017 a b NEC Wins Contract for First Optical Submarine Cable System Linking Maldives to Sri Lanka NEC Archived from the original on 7 January 2007 Retrieved 19 January 2007 Dhiraagu Submarine Cable connected to Maldives Haveeru Archived from the original on 28 September 2007 Retrieved 19 January 2007 External links EditOfficial Dhiraagu website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dhiraagu amp oldid 1129406007, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
