Domestic Submarine Cable of Maldives (DSCoM): Connecting the Maldivian Islands
The Domestic Submarine Cable of Maldives (DSCoM) is a 286-kilometer submarine telecommunications cable designed to link several islands of the Maldives archipelago. Owned jointly by Dhiraagu and Ooredoo Maldives, two leading telecom operators in the country, the cable is listed as in service and is recorded in the GeoCables database as ready for service in 2024. Its primary purpose is to enhance connectivity across the Maldives, a nation composed of over 1,000 islands, by providing faster and more reliable data transmission.
What makes DSCoM particularly interesting is the lack of publicly disclosed technical details, such as its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology. This absence of information limits the ability to assess its full capabilities, though its role in connecting key islands suggests it is a significant infrastructure project for the Maldives. Additionally, the cable's interaction with other existing systems in the region raises questions about redundancy and network resilience.
Quick facts
| Name | Domestic Submarine Cable of Maldives (DSCoM) |
| Length | 286 km |
| Ready for Service (RFS) | 2024 (GeoCables database value) |
| Owners | Dhiraagu, Ooredoo Maldives |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Dhangethi, Dhuvaafaru, Eydhafushi, Hulhumale, Kudahuvadhoo, Maafushi, Maamigili, Velidhoo (all in Maldives) |
🗺 Show Domestic Submarine Cable of Maldives (DSCoM) on the interactive cable map
Route
The DSCoM connects eight landing points across the Maldives: Dhangethi, Dhuvaafaru, Eydhafushi, Hulhumale, Kudahuvadhoo, Maafushi, Maamigili, and Velidhoo. These locations span several atolls, ensuring coverage across different geographic regions of the country. Hulhumale, near the capital Malé, serves as a critical hub for telecommunications in the Maldives and is a landing site for multiple international and domestic cables. The other landing points extend connectivity to less central islands, supporting local communities and businesses.
Why it was built and what it carries
The primary purpose of DSCoM is to improve domestic connectivity within the Maldives, a nation heavily reliant on telecommunications due to its dispersed geography. Submarine cables like DSCoM are essential for ensuring high-speed internet access and reliable communication services across the islands. While specific data on traffic or services carried by DSCoM is not publicly available, its role likely includes supporting broadband internet, mobile network backhaul, and other data services for residents, businesses, and government entities.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records the DSCoM as ready for service in 2024, though no conflicting dates are currently known from industry sources. The cable's development aligns with broader efforts by Dhiraagu and Ooredoo Maldives to expand connectivity infrastructure in the country. Both operators have invested in submarine cable systems in the past, including the
Dhiraagu Cable Network and
Nationwide Submarine Cable Ooredoo Maldives (NaSCOM), suggesting DSCoM is part of a larger strategy to enhance domestic and international telecommunications.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available information does not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology used in DSCoM. Without operator documentation, attributing these parameters would be speculative. However, given the cable's relatively short length and domestic focus, it is likely optimized for high-capacity data transmission to support broadband and mobile services within the Maldives. The absence of technical details makes it difficult to compare DSCoM with other cables in the region.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way light propagation latency over the 286-kilometer wet segment of DSCoM is approximately 1.4 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 2.8 milliseconds. However, real-world latency will be higher due to factors such as land-based routing, terminal equipment delays, and network congestion. No live measurements are currently available for DSCoM, so its actual performance cannot be independently verified.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
DSCoM operates in a region with several other submarine cables, including the Dhiraagu Cable Network, Nationwide Submarine Cable Ooredoo Maldives (NaSCOM), and international systems such as the
India Asia Xpress (IAX) and
SeaMeWe-6. These alternative cables provide redundancy for domestic and international connectivity, reducing the impact of potential outages. Standard industry practices for submarine cable repair, such as deploying specialized cable ships, would apply to DSCoM in the event of a fault.
Bottom line
- DSCoM is a 286-kilometer domestic submarine cable connecting eight islands in the Maldives.
- Owned by Dhiraagu and Ooredoo Maldives, it is listed as in service and recorded as ready for service in 2024.
- Technical details such as design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency over the wet segment is approximately 2.8 milliseconds RTT, though real-world latency will be higher.
- Redundancy is supported by other cables in the region, including domestic and international systems.