Communication in Maldives

Everyday communication in the Maldives combines informal conversation with mobile voice, SMS, mobile data, email, websites, social messaging and postal services. Channel choice depends on the island, network availability, language, device, cost and accessibility needs. Dhivehi is the national language under Article 11 of the Constitution. The National Language (Priority) Act generally gives Dhivehi priority in state communication and correspondence, while other languages may be used for people who do not speak Dhivehi. English is widely used in education, business and tourism, and Bengali may be used for some migrant communication and warnings. The Communications Authority of Maldives, known as CAM, regulates telecommunications, numbering, spectrum, standards, postal licensing and consumer interests. Dhiraagu and Ooredoo provide mobile services. Dhiraagu mobile numbers generally use the ranges 71X XXXX to 79X XXXX, while Ooredoo numbers generally use 91X XXXX to 99X XXXX. Fixed numbers in Malé generally use 300XXXX to 304XXXX, 330XXXX to 335XXXX or 339XXXX; atoll ranges generally use 650XXXX to 689XXXX. The international country code is +960, emergency and operator services use 1XX codes, public and private short codes use 14XX, 15XX or 16XX, and toll-free numbers use 0800 XXX XXXX. Since the regulation took effect on 24 August 2023, a Maldivian may hold up to 10 mobile numbers per provider and a foreigner may hold up to 3 per provider; the provider decides the available SIM, prepaid and postpaid options. CAM recorded 844,302 mobile subscriptions in July 2026, including 236,943 postpaid and 607,359 prepaid subscriptions. It also recorded 11,323 fixed lines, of which 8,736 were in the Malé region including Villingili and Hulhumalé and 2,587 were in other regions including resorts and uninhabited islands. The same figures recorded 108,763 fixed-broadband subscriptions, 350,035 mobile-broadband subscriptions and 1,174 satellite subscriptions; these are subscriptions, not individual people or a measure of complete coverage. Maldives Post Limited is the state-owned national postal operator and has a universal postal service obligation. It handles letters, parcels, EMS, e-commerce and logistics through 15 atoll post offices and about 172 postal agencies, with access in all inhabited islands. A complete island and atoll address with the five-digit postcode helps delivery; Malé uses 20XXX, Villingili 21XXX, Hulhule 22000, Hulhumalé 23000 and atoll codes generally use 01XXX to 20XXX. Postal cost and delivery time depend on service, destination, weight, island connections and customs. The Maldives Digital Service, or MDS, coordinates national digital transformation and interoperable citizen-focused government services. oneGov is the central government access portal, and eFaas is the national digital identity system with verified identity, consent-based data sharing and notifications. eFaas is available to all residents, including work-permit holders, through online or in-person processes, but a device, network connection, identity and account are required and some services may also require biometrics or multi-factor authentication. oneGov and eFaas aim to provide access at any time, but actual availability and response depend on the individual service; some government services may charge a fee. Local councils provide island-level contact points, while government services may be available digitally or in person depending on the authority. Emergency communication can use mobile or fixed networks when the network and location permit it: 119 reaches Police, 118 Fire and Rescue, 100 National Ambulance, 191 Coast Guard and 115 the National Disaster Management Authority. Other listed support numbers include 1425 for Maldivian Red Crescent. NDMA's Udha app provides real-time warnings in Dhivehi, Bengali and English, including voice messages, acknowledgement and community incident reports with photographs, video, location and time. The Disability Act 8/2010 includes duties concerning information, communication and equal participation for people with hearing, speech and visual disabilities. Practical alternatives include Dhivehi or English, simple wording, voice, text, visual notices, assistive technology and sign-language support, but accessibility differs between authorities and channels. Connectivity on outer islands, transport, device and data costs, language mismatch, literacy and sensory barriers can restrict access; the 2022 MBS Disability Census recorded Dhivehi literacy among people with disabilities at 89% and English literacy at 41%. For a telecommunications problem, contact the provider first. CAM accepts written complaints about service supply or refusal, connections and equipment, quality of service, charges, nuisance calls and other consumer issues through its website or form, by email at admin@cam.gov.mv or at its front office; hotline 1515 is also available. A complaint should name the respondent and include the facts, supporting evidence and relevant letters, and CAM rules provide reasonable assistance with putting a complaint into writing. There is no single current nationwide deadline or refund rule for every complaint. Postal and digital-service disputes normally go to the responsible provider or authority, and no single cross-sector ombudsman has been established for all communication services. Mobile, postal and data prices follow provider tariffs or the postal service, destination, weight and customs conditions; CAM fees apply to its published services. Emergency calls require immediate channel selection, while complaints, postal deliveries and disability registration do not have one uniform nationwide processing time.