Monopoly Roadrace ends

Dhiraagu, the largest telecom monopoly in Maldives, has successfully held its annul Broadband Road Race on Friday.

The event, organized by Dhiraagu in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Maldives (AAM), was held on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, starting off and ending at the Artificial Beach.
Dhiraagu’s annual Broadband Race held under four categories, professionals, Amateur, under 40 years groups, Amateur, above 40 years group and team events. Some 600 competitors took part in the event held in a very festive atmosphere.

The top prize in team event category was won by Team Sifa from Maldives Defense Force. In Amateur, above 40 years, female group, Aminath Nasiha won the top prize and in male group the top prize went to Ahmed Munthaz Moosa. In the Amateur group, under 40 years, top prize among female group went to Nazeera Abdul Raheem and in male group of the same category; the top prize went to Nashid Ali.

Cash prizes were awarded to winners and runners up of all categories. Top prize under professional category was awarded Rf. 8,000 while the runner up received Rf.6, 000. Top prizes of the Amateur category, both above 40 years and under 40 years, were awarded rf.5, 000 and runner up in this category was awarded Rf.4, 000. Rf. 10,000 was presented to winners of the team event category.

Further participant and the oldest participant were also given prizes. Dhiraagu Broadband Road Race was first held in 2007, to raise awareness of the speed, quality and benefits of Dhiraagu’s ADSL broadband service. Following the success of the initial race, the Dhiraagu Broadband Road Race has become an event on its own, and this is the third successive year the race was held. The main objective of the race is to promote healthier and active lifestyles in the community, Dhiraagu has said.

As Dhiraagu keeps on gaining more avenues to monopolize the industry the people of Maldives is still waiting for the day when the technology will eventually come to the promised "Aiy Foaraa Fashah". We will not see this light until the government can have an independant body as Regulator OR the Government stops doing business and sell all its shares in Dhiraagu and open up the market for more competition.

It was only last month that we saw Dhiraagu being awarded the Government Network of Maldives (GNM). This comes as a huge blow to the IT community who were looking forward to having an alternative connectivity option that can be affordable "Aiy Foaraa Fashugai"