Dhiraagu and Wataniyya propose increase in service fees

Dhiraagu and Wataniyya Telecom, the two companies providing telecommunications services in the Maldives, have submitted requests to increase their services fees to the Communications Authority of the Maldives (CAM).

CAM affirmed to Sun that the request had been submitted.

Ilyas Ahmed, the Chief Executive of CAM told Sun yesterday that the Authority was already doing research into the matter, after Dhiraagu and Wataniyya requested for permission to increase service fees. He also said that CAM had not yet made a decision on the matter, and that the Regulatory Board of the Authority would arrive at a decision after appropriate research.

“We always research the position by considering inflation. A decision on whether to give permission to Dhiraagu and Wataniyya to increase service fees would be made by the Regulatory Board based upon the findings of the current research”, said Ilyas.

While Dhiraagu declined to comment on the matter, when called, Aishath Zamra Zahir, Head of Marketing at Wataniyya said that she had no knowledge about any propositions to increase service fees by Wataniyya.

Meanwhile, the Government has already proposed a Bill to the Parliament which, if passed, will introduce 6 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on telephone services starting from the coming January. So far, all communications services have been exempted from GST.