Careless & Worthless (C&W) phone company in partnership with Dhiraagu is going to acquire Mohamed Nasheed Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC), a source close to Naseem has revealed today. C&W is in talks with Mahmood Razi, the Chairman of Privatisation Committee. He is also the Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication.
Invest Maldives has announced to privatize MNBC and C&W is going to charge high prices from all Maldivian households for watching television. Services that will become expensive after C&W acquires MNBC:
1. Television Maldives will become more expensive (users will have to pay a monthly fee to watch TVM)
2. Voice of Maldives (Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu) will become more expensive (Bakuru will have to pay for listening to his favourite radio programme)
3. Ringtones through the "high speed broadband network" of Dhiraagu.
Mr Ahmed Naseer (Bodhu) who is the President of National Council for Linguistic and Historical Research (Dhivehi Bahaai Thaareekhah Khidhmaiy Kuraa Qaumee Markaz) is going to introduce a new phrase to the dictionary of Maldives after C&W acquires MNBC. The phrase is "aiy foaraa fashah" and it means 'expensive' in English language.
with additional reporting by Lubna in front of the Invest Maldives office
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
President Nasheed writes article for Huffington Post. But Maldivians can't read.
Eid Mubaarik to blog readers. Late saying Eid Mubaarik because gone to Eid Holidays for alif atoll Maalhos. Now back to blogging. Today I met my friend Naseem near Fish Market. Naseem tell me President Nasheed write article for The Huffington Post. President write very good article in English. President also has very good English writer Paul Roberts at President's Office.
But majority of Maldivians unable to read this article because internet not good in majority islands or no internet available. My friend Ali from Angolhitheemu Raa Atoll can't read article. Because only island office having slow internet by 56k modem. Ali can't read English but very much like to go to website The Huffington Post because he very much fan of Anni. Anni was banished to Angolhiteemu. Angolhitheemu the Slave Island. Rasgetheemu the King's Island. Even today Angolhitheemu still slaves' island because people enslaved without internet. My friend Bakuru, fisherman from Kumundhoo Haa Dhaal Atoll also like to see The Huffington Post article. But he can't see because no internet at island. He very much fan of Anni because Anni promise coffee for Kumundhoo people from Kulhudhuffushi.
President Nasheed very much celebrity now. But Maldivians can't see the celebrity video and can't read the celebrity articles. Maldivians always pay high price to Dhiraagu and ROL if we don't act now. Making internet affordable (aiy foaraa fashah) requires real grassroots movement.
But majority of Maldivians unable to read this article because internet not good in majority islands or no internet available. My friend Ali from Angolhitheemu Raa Atoll can't read article. Because only island office having slow internet by 56k modem. Ali can't read English but very much like to go to website The Huffington Post because he very much fan of Anni. Anni was banished to Angolhiteemu. Angolhitheemu the Slave Island. Rasgetheemu the King's Island. Even today Angolhitheemu still slaves' island because people enslaved without internet. My friend Bakuru, fisherman from Kumundhoo Haa Dhaal Atoll also like to see The Huffington Post article. But he can't see because no internet at island. He very much fan of Anni because Anni promise coffee for Kumundhoo people from Kulhudhuffushi.
President Nasheed very much celebrity now. But Maldivians can't see the celebrity video and can't read the celebrity articles. Maldivians always pay high price to Dhiraagu and ROL if we don't act now. Making internet affordable (aiy foaraa fashah) requires real grassroots movement.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
If we don't act now
If we don't act now our grandparents may never use internet in their life. If we don't act now our grandchildren will be paying the same high prices to Dhiraagu and ROL for poor services. If we don't act now internet prices will not become affordable (aiy foaraa fashah) before Maldives sinks. Act Now. Seal the Deal.
Friday, September 18, 2009
President Nasheed joins hollywood celebrities but Maldivians can't watch because Dhiraagu too slow
Today I met my friend Naseem near Fish Market. Naseem buying fish and watermelon for breakfast. Naseem tell me President Nasheed star in new advertisement for climate change. It is UN advert. President Nasheed star with Hollywood celebrities and Peace Prize winners. Naseem say he visit website to watch the advert but he can't watch video because Dhiraagu too slow.
My friend Ali lives in Agolhitheemu Raa Atoll. Only island office having internet in island. Island office using internet with 56 kbps modem. Too slow to watch President Nasheed's celebrity video.
My friend Bakuru is fisherman in Kumundhoo Haa Dhaal Atoll. Kumundhoo people don't have internet. But they dream of going to Kulhudhuffushi for a coffee. They also can't watch President Nasheed's celebrity video because no internet.
Majority of Maldivians can't watch President Nasheed's celebrity video because ISPs in Maldives not providing good service. Majority Maldivians without good internet or with no internet. President Nasheed should make celebrity audio with Hollywood celebrities and broadcast through Voice of Maldives Friday morning.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Naseem's urgent appeal to bloggers
Frustrated with the outcome of his meeting with the Communications Authority of Maldives, Naseem contemplated a hunger strike against the high prices Dhiraagu charges for internet. However, realizing how futile it would be to carry out a hunger strike when most people in the country are abstaining from having food during the day, Naseem abandoned this idea. Instead, he decided to send an urgent appeal to all Maldivian bloggers through this blog. This is what Naseem has to say:
"Friends. Bloggers. Countrymen and countrywomen. Lend me your ears.
We have defeated an evil dictatorship only last year. But our struggle did not end at that point. We have to rise against the corporate giants like Dhiraagu, ROL and Careless & Worthless, excuse me, Cable & Wireless. For they are sucking our blood and committing daylight robbery. Never before in the history of Maldives has so few robbed so many in such huge proportions.
I call upon all Maldivian bloggers, to get up and stand up for your rights. I am fully aware most of you blog while sitting down near your computers. However, this is no time to sit. This is no time to be idle. This is the time to stand up. For good humans are judged not from the quizzes they complete on facebook but by the strength of their resolve.
I ask all bloggers to join me in my campaign to hold the internet service providers accountable."
Highly motivated by this speech, Naseem plans to pay a courtesy call on the Honorable Mahmood Razi, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication, on Sunday and have a talk on the status of internet in the Maldives.
"Friends. Bloggers. Countrymen and countrywomen. Lend me your ears.
We have defeated an evil dictatorship only last year. But our struggle did not end at that point. We have to rise against the corporate giants like Dhiraagu, ROL and Careless & Worthless, excuse me, Cable & Wireless. For they are sucking our blood and committing daylight robbery. Never before in the history of Maldives has so few robbed so many in such huge proportions.
I call upon all Maldivian bloggers, to get up and stand up for your rights. I am fully aware most of you blog while sitting down near your computers. However, this is no time to sit. This is no time to be idle. This is the time to stand up. For good humans are judged not from the quizzes they complete on facebook but by the strength of their resolve.
I ask all bloggers to join me in my campaign to hold the internet service providers accountable."
Highly motivated by this speech, Naseem plans to pay a courtesy call on the Honorable Mahmood Razi, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication, on Sunday and have a talk on the status of internet in the Maldives.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Minutes of meeting with Communications Authority of Maldives
On Sunday Naseem went to Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) to complain about the high internet charges of Dhiraagu and the poor service the ISP offers to businesses in Maldives. Naseem met with two gentlemen from CAM, whose names have been withheld following their request. Naseem put a tape recorder on the table, sat back in the executive chair in the meeting room and inhaled a deep breath.
CAM: Now how can we help you?
Naseem: Are you the regulatory authority for communications in the Maldives?
CAM: In fact, we are.
Naseem: Could you enlighten me on what types of regulatory work you have done in the past few decades er... years?
CAM: We give licenses to mobile phone companies. We determine the type of frequencies that should be issued to broadcasting companies. We issue licenses to Internet Service Providers. It is also our mandate to ensure microwave ovens do not emit frequencies that disrupt the communications of the whole country.
Naseem: It looks like you have been very busy over the past decades. To cut a long story short, I am here to complain about one particular company in the Maldives, an ISP. I am deeply distraught over their high internet charges and poor service.
CAM: We have an uneasy feeling you are talking about Dhiraagu. Complaints about Dhiraagu is not something new to us. Look at that filing cabinet over there. There are volumes of complaints filed there about Dhiraagu.
Naseem: So what has your esteemed authority done about those complaints?
CAM: We have done practically nothing but ignore those complaints. Even though we are the regulatory authority Dhiraagu is more powerful than us. All our decisions to reform Dhiraagu were overridden by high government officials In the previous government.
Naseem: Are you talking about officials like Fathulla Jameel who received a huge commission aka bribe out of Cable & Wireless' deals with the government of Maldives?
CAM: We wouldn't be so foolish to mention names. Especially when defamation cases amounting to millions of rufiya can be filed in Maldivian courts these days.
Naseem: How do I know if you also didn't receive a cut of the commission to buy your silence concerning Dhiraagu.
CAM: You will never know. That's how it works.
Naseem: Now that the government has changed and with a presidential commission being formed to probe the corruption of the past government, don't you think you have more space to regulate Dhiraagu?
CAM: Are you so foolish to believe that any government, whether democratic or dictatorial, will cut its own revenue stream? Do you know how much Dhiraagu contributes to the government revenue?
Naseem: I prefer not to know. All I know is ordinary Maldivians are suffering. We are paying high prices for Dhiraagu services. Isn't this a rather unfair way of taxation?
CAM: This is how the system works.
Naseem: What is this rumour about a deal with Cable & Wireless?
CAM: It is confidential. We are not allowed to talk about it.
Naseem: So there is a deal. Are you planning to sell all shares to Cable & Wireless?
CAM: Not us. As you know we are the regulatory authority. We will continue to regulate regardless of who owns the shares. But don't you think it will be a wise move to sell shares to C&W to raise some income for the government? As you know we are experiencing a rather bad economic recession. Besides, the MDP government has pledged privatisation of state-owned enterprises.
Naseem: Don't say it is an MDP government. It is an MDP-Adhaalath Coalition. I am not sure what Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari and his associates think of selling our telecom company to a British company. Is it Haram or Halal? These questions need to be sorted out among the coalition partners before a decision can be made.
CAM: It is not in our mandate to make the decisions. We regulate.
Naseem: I think this is a rather futile conversation. I have this feeling that all decisions have already been made. Who profits from these deals? Who gets a commission? Is it the Special Enjoy? The Cabinet Secretary? The President? Who are the people in President's Office making these decisions?
CAM: We can't answer those questions. We have wives and children to take care of. We need our jobs. Besides our mandate is to regulate.
Naseem: I can see that you enjoy your jobs. Why don't you decrease the temperature in the room to a few more degrees so this room will be colder and even more comfortable?
CAM: If you think this job is easy then you are mistaken. It is not easy to ignore the complaints of citizens like you and play the dirty politics. We also have consciences. What we lack is enough money to support our families.
Naseem: If you receive so much pressure not to regulate Dhiraagu, then why aren't you taking any action about ROL? As you know, ROL also charges high prices and their services are much worse than Dhiraagu.
CAM: You are very naive, aren't you? If we regulate ROL and force ROL to provide better services, all customers will move to ROL. How can Dhiraagu exist in such a scenario? Who will provide revenue for the government? What about the fat commissions?
Naseem: So you gave license to ROL to give the impression that there is free market competition while the whole stage has been set for Dhiraagu?
CAM: More or less that is the story.
Naseem: I think this is a story I will share with newspapers.
CAM: You are more foolish than we thought. Which newspaper in Maldives will run a story against Dhiraagu? Haven't you seen how many programmes they sponsor on TVM and how many full-colour ads they have on the newspapers. No newspaper, radio station, TV channel or news website will ever say anything against Dhiraagu.
Naseem: But Dhiraagu is partly owned by the government. The government should be accountable to the people. The people should start asking questions about how Dhiraagu is run, how Dhiraagu spends money on advertising and how Dhiraagu does unethical business.
CAM: But people don't have a voice. We issue the radio frequency to only the oligarchs in this country. Newspapers will never say anything against Dhiraagu. The people's representatives in the Majlis are too busy taking home their monthly salary. Major political parties will not comment on Dhiraagu.
Naseem: So what is the fate of us?
CAM: Slavery. As before. Now it is almost 1.30 pm. To reduce the government expenditure, we are not permitted to work after office hours. Now if you will excuse us.....
CAM: Now how can we help you?
Naseem: Are you the regulatory authority for communications in the Maldives?
CAM: In fact, we are.
Naseem: Could you enlighten me on what types of regulatory work you have done in the past few decades er... years?
CAM: We give licenses to mobile phone companies. We determine the type of frequencies that should be issued to broadcasting companies. We issue licenses to Internet Service Providers. It is also our mandate to ensure microwave ovens do not emit frequencies that disrupt the communications of the whole country.
Naseem: It looks like you have been very busy over the past decades. To cut a long story short, I am here to complain about one particular company in the Maldives, an ISP. I am deeply distraught over their high internet charges and poor service.
CAM: We have an uneasy feeling you are talking about Dhiraagu. Complaints about Dhiraagu is not something new to us. Look at that filing cabinet over there. There are volumes of complaints filed there about Dhiraagu.
Naseem: So what has your esteemed authority done about those complaints?
CAM: We have done practically nothing but ignore those complaints. Even though we are the regulatory authority Dhiraagu is more powerful than us. All our decisions to reform Dhiraagu were overridden by high government officials In the previous government.
Naseem: Are you talking about officials like Fathulla Jameel who received a huge commission aka bribe out of Cable & Wireless' deals with the government of Maldives?
CAM: We wouldn't be so foolish to mention names. Especially when defamation cases amounting to millions of rufiya can be filed in Maldivian courts these days.
Naseem: How do I know if you also didn't receive a cut of the commission to buy your silence concerning Dhiraagu.
CAM: You will never know. That's how it works.
Naseem: Now that the government has changed and with a presidential commission being formed to probe the corruption of the past government, don't you think you have more space to regulate Dhiraagu?
CAM: Are you so foolish to believe that any government, whether democratic or dictatorial, will cut its own revenue stream? Do you know how much Dhiraagu contributes to the government revenue?
Naseem: I prefer not to know. All I know is ordinary Maldivians are suffering. We are paying high prices for Dhiraagu services. Isn't this a rather unfair way of taxation?
CAM: This is how the system works.
Naseem: What is this rumour about a deal with Cable & Wireless?
CAM: It is confidential. We are not allowed to talk about it.
Naseem: So there is a deal. Are you planning to sell all shares to Cable & Wireless?
CAM: Not us. As you know we are the regulatory authority. We will continue to regulate regardless of who owns the shares. But don't you think it will be a wise move to sell shares to C&W to raise some income for the government? As you know we are experiencing a rather bad economic recession. Besides, the MDP government has pledged privatisation of state-owned enterprises.
Naseem: Don't say it is an MDP government. It is an MDP-Adhaalath Coalition. I am not sure what Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari and his associates think of selling our telecom company to a British company. Is it Haram or Halal? These questions need to be sorted out among the coalition partners before a decision can be made.
CAM: It is not in our mandate to make the decisions. We regulate.
Naseem: I think this is a rather futile conversation. I have this feeling that all decisions have already been made. Who profits from these deals? Who gets a commission? Is it the Special Enjoy? The Cabinet Secretary? The President? Who are the people in President's Office making these decisions?
CAM: We can't answer those questions. We have wives and children to take care of. We need our jobs. Besides our mandate is to regulate.
Naseem: I can see that you enjoy your jobs. Why don't you decrease the temperature in the room to a few more degrees so this room will be colder and even more comfortable?
CAM: If you think this job is easy then you are mistaken. It is not easy to ignore the complaints of citizens like you and play the dirty politics. We also have consciences. What we lack is enough money to support our families.
Naseem: If you receive so much pressure not to regulate Dhiraagu, then why aren't you taking any action about ROL? As you know, ROL also charges high prices and their services are much worse than Dhiraagu.
CAM: You are very naive, aren't you? If we regulate ROL and force ROL to provide better services, all customers will move to ROL. How can Dhiraagu exist in such a scenario? Who will provide revenue for the government? What about the fat commissions?
Naseem: So you gave license to ROL to give the impression that there is free market competition while the whole stage has been set for Dhiraagu?
CAM: More or less that is the story.
Naseem: I think this is a story I will share with newspapers.
CAM: You are more foolish than we thought. Which newspaper in Maldives will run a story against Dhiraagu? Haven't you seen how many programmes they sponsor on TVM and how many full-colour ads they have on the newspapers. No newspaper, radio station, TV channel or news website will ever say anything against Dhiraagu.
Naseem: But Dhiraagu is partly owned by the government. The government should be accountable to the people. The people should start asking questions about how Dhiraagu is run, how Dhiraagu spends money on advertising and how Dhiraagu does unethical business.
CAM: But people don't have a voice. We issue the radio frequency to only the oligarchs in this country. Newspapers will never say anything against Dhiraagu. The people's representatives in the Majlis are too busy taking home their monthly salary. Major political parties will not comment on Dhiraagu.
Naseem: So what is the fate of us?
CAM: Slavery. As before. Now it is almost 1.30 pm. To reduce the government expenditure, we are not permitted to work after office hours. Now if you will excuse us.....
Friday, September 4, 2009
Naseem's Thai girlfriend get unlimited broadband for $27
Last night I met my friend Naseem and he still talking about internet problems with Dhiraagu. Naseem said his Thai girlfriend lives in Muang Thong Thani. She has very good internet. True Corporation give 2 megabits per second for 890 baht for one month. It is 27 in US dollars. That is unlimited internet for less than 400 rufiyaa. True Corporation also give 8 megabits for businesses. Naseem say Dhiraagu and ROL charge very much from businesses in Maldives. As a result Thailand businesses are growing very fast but Maldives businesses do not grow fast. Naseem now thinking of going to Communications Authority of Maldives to complain.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Naseem can't chat with Thai girlfriend because Dhiraagu down
Last night I met my friend Naseem in front of Seagull Cafe. Now Seagull Cafe closed so we can't enter. Naseem and I cross the street and stand in front of Dhiraagu.
"What a useless building," Naseem said pointing to Dhiraagu.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because they are worst ISP in the world," Naseem said.
Naseem said he having problems with internet for many days now. Dhiraagu problem. Dhiraagu said they are hacked. Dhiraagu said hacker group testing new type of attack called DDOS because Dhiraagu is in third-world country and easier to test attacks.
Naseem very angry because he can't send emails to his shipper in Bangkok to confirm new clothes for his shop. Naseem more angry because he can't chat with his Thai girlfriend in Bangkok.
"What a useless building," Naseem said pointing to Dhiraagu.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because they are worst ISP in the world," Naseem said.
Naseem said he having problems with internet for many days now. Dhiraagu problem. Dhiraagu said they are hacked. Dhiraagu said hacker group testing new type of attack called DDOS because Dhiraagu is in third-world country and easier to test attacks.
Naseem very angry because he can't send emails to his shipper in Bangkok to confirm new clothes for his shop. Naseem more angry because he can't chat with his Thai girlfriend in Bangkok.
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