Gov't unveils new reduced internet prices

The government of Maldives have unveiled new and reduced prices for internet services as part of their policy to make broadband and mobile internet more affordable in the coming months.

Slashing the costs for internet services provision in Maldives had been a key electoral pledge for incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The newly reduced prices for internet were announced in a special ceremony held on Thursday.

The most immediate changes to the price of internet will come into effect on 1 July 2021. These changes will be implemented for fixed broadband connections, and will drastically reduce the cost of acquiring internet services for households and businesses across the Maldives. Revised internet prices and speed for residential connections will reflect a 28 to 30 percent deduction in price, with the throttle speed set between 2 and 5mbps based on the package.

The national minimum broadband speed will be effective at 2mbps following implementation of these changes on 1 July 2021.

1. MVR 250 for 30GB per month at a speed of 5mbps

2. MVR 500 for 100GB per month at a speed of 15 mbps

3. MVR 700 for 200GB per month at a speed of 15mbps

30 to 100 percent more data allowances for prepaid customers

30 to 20 percent more data allowances for postpaind customers

5 to 20 percent more data allowances for mobile broadband customers

20 percent more data allowances for prepaid customers

19 to 28 percent more data allowances for postpaid customers

20 percent more data allowances for mobile broadband customers

The changes to mobile internet packages being provided by the Maldives major two ISPs Dhiraagu and Ooredoo will be in effect beginning October 2021.

Reducing the cost of acquiring internet services in Maldives had been an electoral pledge put forth by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2018, and the government has received heavy criticism for delays in implementing said changes.