Wataniya launches full service mobile network in Maldives

The network launches with over 7,000 pre-booked subscribers now able to collect their SIMs and enjoy a range of services that include multimedia messaging, push to talk, high speed mobile Internet access and international roaming from day one.

"We're bringing a new range of services to the Maldives from today, underpinned by a reliable and world class network. Demand has been tremendous as people have elected to take the choice we are now offering them," said Chairman of Wataniya Telecom Maldives, Salah Al Sultan. "Now visitors and citizens alike have access to some of the world's most advanced mobile communications capabilities for the first time, including a 3G capable network in the capital, Male.

Wataniya Telecom Maldives launches with a network offering high speed Internet access based on 3G technologies in the city area of Male and GPRS/EDGE technologies serving other areas of the country. The new network supports multimedia messaging (MMS) for picture messages as well as fast mobile Internet access.

"It's important to offer world class communications to the Maldives, not only to benefit citizens but to underpin the country's tourism industry which is so important to the Maldives. Now visitors from

Europe, the Middle East and Asia can enjoy the high quality communications services they have become used to expecting from their home countries while they are in the Maldives," said Wataniya Telecom Maldives' CEO, Mark Hanna. "Together with an advanced network, we're also offering flexible and responsive customer service."

The new network launches with four packages for subscribers; TalkEasy; TalkPlan, TalkMore and TalkBusiness. TalkEasy is a pre-paid service underpinned by a range of four prepaid cards available through outlets across the country, while TalkPlan is a monthly plan with three package options that allows unused talktime to be 'rolled over' month to month. TalkMore is a hybrid plan with monthly billed service that can be 'topped up' with recharge cards, while TalkBusiness offers a range of advanced business services, including closed user group facilities, monthly itemized billing and a dedicated customer care team. The TalkBusiness package also supports 'push to talk' group calling capabilities, allowing subscribers to use their mobile handsets like walkie talkies.

"We're proud to be bringing the full benefit of competition to the Maldives, with a network that supports advanced world-class services from day one, backed by world-class customer service," said Sultan. "Customer care is available 24x7 and we have a national network of distributors as well as billing arrangements with the national Post Office, which has outlets across the islands, as well as the Bank of the Maldives. It's about convenience: we're offering our customers the best services, the easiest access and the most straightforward and simple billing."

The launch follows the award of a mobile network license to Wataniya International, the international operations arm of leading regional communications company Wataniya Telecom. The Maldives license was awarded in February 2005, and the initial network build out has seen Wataniya investing over $40 million in building a new national mobile network in the country.