telecommunications sea ports & airports transport
The dispersed nature of the Maldives’ island settlement makes telecommunications a pivotal service for the socio economic development of the country. Telecom services in the Maldives are well developed, with state of the art facilities including a GSM cellular mobile system with international roaming capability, Internet and e-mail.
In the year 2000, Maldives completed the provision of telephone access in all the inhabited islands by providing public telephone booths in each of the 197 inhabited islands. In addition, service on demand is available in more density-populated islands. Internationally, the Maldives is now connected to over 185 countries through International Direct Dialling services.
Mobile phones have superseded the fixed telephone with the introduction of GSM cellular mobile service in November 1999. Additional services available for GSM customers include; fax and data service, international roaming, SMS and Caller ID. GSM prepaid service is also available now. International roaming service has also been introduced and is currently available over 50 networks at various destinations.
Internet service was introduced in 1996. An Internet dial-up service is available throughout the country wherever telephone access is available. Many new services including instant Internet connection with no set-up fee/monthly charges, free e-mail and Web hosting services are now available. In addition, Cyber stations are being opened at different locations in the country to allow Internet access for remote island communities. ISDN services have also been introduced recently.
The Male’ Commercial Harbour is the main focal point of trade and commerce in the Maldives and holds a prominent position on the busy Male’ water front; the north shore of the capital island of Male’. It handles most of the international sea cargo for the country with regular cargo services provided to and from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and much of Asia and the Far East.
The harbour is now able to dock vessels of up to 6000 gross registered tons with a maximum displacement of 15,000 DWT. Average ship turnaround of the port is 3 to 4 days. In 2001, the port handled more than 800000 freight tons. Container throughput was 16,012 units.
Regional ports in Addu Atoll Gan, Hadhunmathi Gan, North Thiladhunmathi Uligan, Male’ Atoll Thulusdhoo, and South Thiladhunmathi Hanimaadhoo also handle a considerable amount of the country’s sea cargo including fishery and garment exports.
Male’ International Airport is the main airport in the Maldives which serves all the international and domestic flights operating to and from their respective destinations.
Since its opening in 1981, Male’ International Airport has grown from a tiny airstrip into an international airport that hosts to more than 30 international airlines including scheduled and charter flights from Asia, Europe, the Far East, Middle East, and South Africa. The airport, located in Hulhule’ island is only ten minutes from the capital by water taxi, and close to many resorts.
Additionally, there are four domestic airports in the Maldives in Addu Atoll Gan (a former British RAF base), South Thiladhunmadulu Hanimaadhoo, South Huvadhu Atoll Kaadedhoo, and Hadhunmathi Kadhoo, serving as gateways connecting the country via air providing for greater impetus in socio-economic development.
Of the 115,300 square kilometres that constitute the Maldives, land area is approximately 20%. Naturally, most of the transportation undertaken within the country is by sea or air and not by land. Local boats or dhonis, speed launches and high speed ferry services are the most common means of water transport. There is a regular ferry service operating between Male’ and the international airport, and between Male’ and Villingili, the fifth ward of Male’. A few of the larger islands have their own ferry services as well.
Travel on most islands take no more than half an hour on foot. Bicycles and motorbikes are popular modes of transport. The majority of vehicles, both motorized and mechanical, are found in Male’. Taxi service in Male’ is fairly good with air-conditioned taxis that charge only MRf 10 per ride to any destination in the city. Taxis are available on call and are connected to service centres.
In the aviation scene, over 30 international airlines are in operation offering regular scheduled and charter flights from anywhere in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe. Indian Airlines operate daily flights from Trivandrum, and Sri Lankan Airlines operate one or more flights each day from Colombo. While Emirates connect Maldives with Dubai, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines operate regular scheduled flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur several times a week. Most holidaymakers travel to the Maldives by scheduled and charter flights that are operated from major cities in Europe including London, Milan, Rome, Vienna, Zurich, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki.
Apart from that there are also regular domestic flights operated by
Island Aviation Services to the four domestic airports. All resorts
outside Male’ Atoll offer the option of seaplane for transfer to and from
the airport. Sea plane services are currently provided by Maldivian Air Taxi
and Trans
Maldivian Airways and Sun Express Airlines.
©
2003
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