- Reliability
- High
Overall5.9/10Faster internet than about 60% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Resorts often provide faster and more consistent Wi-Fi than local island guesthouses; resorts near Malé typically offer better speeds and uptime than remote atolls.
- Mobile data frequently outperforms Wi-Fi, especially on smaller islands where shared broadband links are limited.
- Peak-time slowdowns occur during evening hours on local islands when residential usage peaks; consider scheduling heavy uploads/downloads during off-peak hours.
- Weather-related disruptions can affect both mobile and Wi-Fi stability, particularly during monsoon season.
- Ferry and boat travel between islands may result in temporary connectivity loss; carry a local SIM or e-SIM for uninterrupted mobile access during transfers.
- If planning intensive remote work, negotiate with resorts about dedicated broadband; luxury properties often supplement shared Wi-Fi with private connections.
- International roaming from home carriers incurs steep daily charges (USD 10–15+ per day); local SIM or e-SIM is significantly more economical for multi-day stays.
- Starlink satellite service is now available for entire archipelago coverage including remote islands, though terrestrial networks remain the primary option in populated areas.
Home Broadband
- Reliability
- Nationwide fiber network completed in 2025; historically centralized infrastructure around Malé with variable speeds in outer atolls. New submarine cable (SMW6) due early 2026 expected to improve latency and reduce costs.
Speeds
- Starlink Measured
- Average 50.5 Mbps download / 23.1 Mbps upload (April 2025-March 2026)
- Premium Fiber Packages
- Up to 100 Mbps or higher available
- Fixed Broadband March 2025
- Approximately 42 Mbps average download
- Fixed Broadband Median 2024
- 11.4 Mbps download / 11.3 Mbps upload
- Note
- Speeds varying by technology and subscription tier
Primary Providers
Dhiraagu
- Coverage
- 100% coverage to all inhabited islands as of January 2025
- Technology
- Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) nationwide
- Market Share
- Approximately 52% owned by Batelco (Bahrain) and 42% by Maldivian government
Ooredoo
- Coverage
- Nationwide via fiber and 4G/5G networks
- Technology
- Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and fixed wireless (4G/5G)
- Market Share
- Second-largest provider
Focus Infocom (Raajjé Online)
- Coverage
- Limited regional coverage
- Technology
- Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) and other legacy technologies
- Market Share
- Smaller player
Starlink
- Coverage
- Nationwide including remote islands and seafaring vessels
- Technology
- Satellite broadband
- Market Share
- Licensed as fourth ISP in August 2023
Carriers
Dhiraagu
- Coverage
- 4G/LTE on 190+ islands, 5G rollout in capital region
- Market Share
- Over 60-80% of market
- Technologies
- 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G (selected areas)
Ooredoo
- Coverage
- Nationwide 4G/LTE, 5G in Malé and select areas
- Market Share
- Second major operator
- Technologies
- 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G (selected areas)
Prepaid SIM Cards
- SIM Card Cost
- MVR 30
- Additional Tax
- 6% GST applied to all SIM and top-up purchases; 12% GST in tourist establishments
- Description
- Widely available at airport, retail outlets, and authorized resellers
Example Tourist Packages
Dhiraagu 7-day Tourist Package
- Cost
- MVR 275
- Data
- 100 GB
- Validity
- 7 days
Ooredoo 500MB
- Cost
- MVR 99
- Data
- 500 MB
- Validity
- 30 days
Ooredoo 12GB
- Cost
- MVR 899
- Data
- 12 GB
- Validity
- 30 days
Connectivity Reliability Tier
high
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Nationwide fiber-to-the-home infrastructure completed in 2025, 99% mobile coverage across inhabited islands, 4G/LTE ubiquitous in tourism and populated areas, dual major carrier competition, and improving international bandwidth via new submarine cables support reliable connectivity for remote workers in main population centers and resorts, though outer atolls and ferry travel may see intermittent service.
e-SIM Support
- Availability
- Supported by both Dhiraagu and Ooredoo networks via multiple international e-SIM providers
- Device Compatibility
- iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3+, and other modern e-SIM-capable unlocked smartphones
- Local Carrier Support
- Yes, both major carriers support e-SIM activation
- Note
- eSIM generally pricier upfront than physical SIM but convenient for pre-arrival activation and data-only use
International e-SIM Providers
- Airalo
- Saily
- Holafly
- Nomad
- GigSky
- Yesim
- ByteSIM
- Maya Mobile
- eSIM4Travel
- GlobaleSIM
- Mobimatter
Mobile Speeds
- Expected Upload
- 35 Mbps typical
- Expected Download
- 70 Mbps typical
- Coverage Variability
- Stable on major islands and resort atolls; may vary on remote islands and during ferry travel
Coverage Summary
- Global Ranking
- 33rd worldwide for mobile download speed (early 2025)
- 5g Availability
- Available in Malé and Hulhumalé (airport); most remote islands LTE-only
- Inhabited Islands
- 4G/LTE available on essentially all inhabited islands
- Overall Mobile Coverage
- 99% coverage reported by both providers
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this connectivity & internet research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Maldives
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.