Dhiraagu lays submarine fibre-optic cable in Maldives

Dhiraagu is in the process of connecting the Maldives to the rest of the world through an 837km fibre optic submarine cable. The submarine cable network project was contracted to Japan's NEC, and is estimated to be $27m in total.

Once this project is completed, Dhiraagu will have one international and three domestic submarine cable links. The international link is the connection between Sri Lanka and Maldives, and the remaining links will be between Hulhumale and Male, between Male and Kaafu Villingili, and the last link connecting Laamu Gan and Gaafu Dhaal Gadhoo, across 238km the One and Half Degree channel, the company informed.

Currently this domestic link is served through a satellite connection. The company hopes that establishing links through the submarine cable would enable Dhiraagu to improve the quality of service and minimise costs incurred for using satellite bandwidth.

The submarine cable project was kicked off in partnership with Sri Lanka Telecom (15 per cent) and Dhiraagu (85 per cent). Dhiraagu started to lay its submarine cable on 1 May this year following the signing of an MoU with Sri Lanka Telecom. The company has informed that the link between Hulhumale and Male' will be completed on 16 Nov, followed by the link from Male to Villingili Island on 17 Nov.

The last link between Laamu Gan and Gaaf Dhaal Gadhoo is expected to be established before the end of the month. It is anticipated that Dhiraagu will be ready to provide service to its customer using this cable by early February 2007.