Mobile data and internet in the Maldives: what actually works
Two operators, wildly different coverage once you leave Malé, and prices that make sense only if you know which package to ask for.
The Maldives has two mobile operators — Dhiraagu and Ooredoo — and the gap between them depends entirely on where you are standing.
Coverage, honestly
In Malé and Hulhumalé both are fine. 4G everywhere, 5G in patches, speeds that will stream video without complaint.
Outside the central atolls the picture changes. Dhiraagu has the older, wider network and generally wins on the far-flung islands — it was the state operator and built out first. Ooredoo is competitive in the populated atolls and often cheaper.
On a resort island, ignore both: you will be on the resort's Wi-Fi, which is usually good and usually included.
Getting a SIM
Both operators have desks in the arrivals hall at Velana. This is the easiest moment to do it — bring your passport, it takes ten minutes, and the tourist packages are only sold there and in their main stores.
Tourist SIM packages run roughly MVR 300–600 for 7–30 days with 10–50 GB. The exact tiers change; ask for the current tourist plan rather than picking from a printed board.
For a longer stay, a regular prepaid SIM plus a monthly data add-on is better value. Expect MVR 250–500 a month for a usable data allowance.
eSIM
Both operators now support eSIM, and several international eSIM providers cover the Maldives. For a short trip an eSIM bought before you fly removes the queue entirely. For anything over a month, a local physical SIM is cheaper and gives you a local number — which you will need for bank verification, delivery services and most local apps.
Home internet
Fibre is available across Malé, Hulhumalé, Addu and the larger island centres. Packages are sold by data allowance rather than unlimited:
- Entry level: around MVR 400/month for a modest allowance
- Mid tier: MVR 700–1,000 for something a household can work on
- High tier: MVR 1,500+
Unlimited plans exist but carry fair-use throttling. If you work online, read the throttle threshold before signing — that number matters more than the headline speed.
What to expect if you work online
Latency to Europe and Asia is reasonable; to the Americas it is not. Video calls hold up. Large uploads on a residential line will take their time.
Power cuts are uncommon in Malé and more frequent on smaller islands. If your income depends on being online, a UPS and a second SIM on the other network is a small price for not losing a working day.
The practical summary
- Staying in Malé, short trip: eSIM, or either operator at the airport
- Island-hopping: Dhiraagu, for coverage
- Living here: regular prepaid plus monthly data, and fibre at home
- Working online: fibre plus a backup SIM on the other network