21 Years of Ooredoo: Building the Maldives' Digital Economy Beyond Connectivity

Twenty-one years ago, Ooredoo entered the Maldivian market with a promise to transform telecommunications through competition, innovation and better customer choice.

It succeeded.

Today, however, Ooredoo's ambition extends far beyond mobile networks and internet connectivity.

As the company celebrates its 21st anniversary on 1 August 2026, it is positioning itself not simply as a telecommunications provider, but as a technology company helping build the Maldives' digital economy.

From Connecting People to Connecting Possibilities

When Ooredoo launched in 2005, the Maldives' telecommunications sector was served by a single operator. The arrival of competition transformed the industry, accelerating investment in mobile services, expanding network coverage and giving consumers better services and greater choice.

Over the following two decades, Ooredoo continued investing in next-generation technologies, helping the country move from basic mobile communications to high-speed mobile broadband, fibre connectivity and an increasingly digital society.

But connectivity, while essential, has become only the foundation.

Today's digital economy depends not just on fast internet, but on technologies that enable businesses to innovate, governments to modernise and entrepreneurs to compete in an increasingly connected world.

Recognising this shift, Ooredoo has evolved from being a telecommunications company into a digital technology partner.

A Decade of Digital Maldives

This year also marks ten years since Ooredoo introduced its Digital Maldives vision, an initiative designed to help accelerate the country's digital transformation.

The vision reflects a simple belief: building a digital nation requires far more than expanding network coverage. It requires creating the technological ecosystem that allows businesses, institutions and communities to embrace innovation.

Over the past decade, Ooredoo has steadily expanded beyond traditional telecommunications into areas that are reshaping economies around the world.

Today, the company offers artificial intelligence solutions, cloud computing, cybersecurity, managed ICT services, fintech platforms and enterprise connectivity, helping organisations modernise operations while improving efficiency, security and resilience.

Building the Foundations of a Digital Economy

Around the world, digital economies are increasingly driven by cloud technologies, artificial intelligence and secure digital infrastructure.

The Maldives is no exception.

Businesses today require reliable cloud services to manage their operations. Government agencies depend on secure digital systems to deliver public services. Small and medium-sized enterprises need technology that allows them to grow without major investments in infrastructure.

Ooredoo has increasingly focused on providing these capabilities.

Its investments in enterprise technology are enabling organisations to automate processes, strengthen cybersecurity, improve customer experiences and make better use of data.

Rather than simply connecting businesses to the internet, Ooredoo is helping businesses use technology as a competitive advantage.

Supporting Innovation Across Industries

Digital transformation is no longer limited to the technology sector.

Tourism, healthcare, banking, education, logistics and retail are all increasingly relying on digital platforms, artificial intelligence and cloud-based solutions to improve efficiency and deliver better services.

Through partnerships with leading global technology companies, Ooredoo is bringing world-class digital capabilities to the Maldives while helping local organisations adopt solutions that were once available only in much larger markets.

Its growing portfolio of managed ICT services enables businesses to focus on innovation while relying on trusted digital infrastructure to support their operations.

Artificial intelligence is also becoming an increasingly important part of this journey, helping create smarter customer experiences while opening new opportunities for businesses to improve productivity and decision-making.

The Next Chapter

As the Maldives continues its digital transformation, Ooredoo sees its future role as extending well beyond telecommunications.

Its vision is to become the country's preferred digital transformation partner, working alongside government, businesses and entrepreneurs to create a smarter, more resilient and more competitive economy.

Twenty-one years after introducing competition to the telecommunications sector, Ooredoo is helping shape the next chapter of the Maldives' digital journey.

Its legacy is no longer defined simply by connecting people to the internet. It is increasingly measured by how it is helping connect ideas, businesses, institutions and communities to the opportunities of the digital age.

Today, Ooredoo is helping build the Maldives' digital economy, not simply by providing internet access, but by enabling innovation, empowering businesses and driving digital transformation across every sector. Through investments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, fintech, enterprise connectivity and managed ICT services, the company is equipping government institutions, businesses and entrepreneurs with the digital tools they need to grow, compete and innovate.

As the Maldives looks towards an increasingly digital future, Ooredoo's story is no longer just about connecting islands. It is about helping build a smarter nation, supporting a stronger economy and creating new opportunities for generations to come.