Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, located in Malé Atoll, has become the first resort to be connected by Ooredoo’s submarine cable. This is also the first time a submarine cable has been laid to a resort in the Maldives. Ooredoo stated that this is a historic achievement in the Maldives’ telecommunications journey and marks the first time a submarine cable has been connected to a resort in the country. The submarine cable, which runs through Ithaafushi and K. Maafushi, connects to Ooredoo’s most modern data center in Hulhumalé, ensuring world-class connectivity with increased capacity, resilience, and speed, according to Ooredoo.
At the ceremony, Minister Tariq said that since Ooredoo’s introduction to the Maldives in 2005, significant progress has been made to ensure no one is left behind in the digital journey. “With each advancement, they prioritize accessibility and inclusion. prioritize accessibility and inclusion. This submarine cable landing is another milestone that brings us closer to a fully connected, future-ready Maldives, marking a historic first for a tourist resort,” said Tourism Minister Tariq Ibrahim.
Ooredoo’s CEO Khalid Al Hamadi said that for the past 20 years, Ooredoo has been at the forefront of the telecommunications sector in the Maldives. He stated that Ooredoo has introduced world-class technology to the Maldives, opened new avenues for progress, and become an essential part of Maldivian culture and lifestyle. “Connecting a submarine cable to a resort for the first time in the Maldives is a significant step forward in our efforts to empower communities with future-ready connectivity, bridging the digital divide and working towards creating a true ‘Digital Maldives’,” said Ooredoo CEO Khalid Al Hamadi.
Ithaafushi’s General Manager, TJ Joulak, said it was a great pleasure to host this important ceremony at the resort, adding that as a destination synonymous with elevated luxury and personalized service, seamless connectivity plays a crucial role in meeting the ever-changing needs of today’s global travelers.
Ooredoo said that this achievement, as the first resort in the Maldives with dual redundancy, a dedicated submarine cable, and an advanced tree tower ready for private 5G, will set a new standard for innovation within the hospitality industry. They also mentioned that with AI-powered features and private 5G infrastructure, the resort is now prepared to offer next-generation digital experiences to its visitors.
The ceremony held today at Ithaafushi to mark this historic achievement was attended by Tourism Minister Tariq Ibrahim, Ooredoo CEO Khalid Al Hamadi, Ithaafushi General Manager TJ Joulak, as well as Communication Authority of Maldives Chief Executive Ilyas Ibrahim, Maafushi Council President Hassan Salah, and senior officials from Ooredoo and Ithaafushi.
