By Alfred Hermida BBC News Online technology editor

The team spent a few days sorting out the computers

A group of computer enthusiasts have turned this dream into a reality, setting up a wireless internet on the tiny island of Mirihi, some 100 kilometres (70 miles) south of the capital, Male.

"They're coming into the 21st century from being back in the 1970s," said Andy Ambridge, one of the experts who helped bring fast internet access to the island.

They are now looking at expanding the wireless or wi-fi network to neighbouring islands so that they can take advantage of the high-speed connection on Mirihi.

Slow and costly net

Mirihi's entry into the era of the internet came about almost by chance.

It started when the resort manager and island chief, Dominik Ruhl, offered Mr Ambridge and some of his friends a cheap holiday to the resort.

It would be very good for the islands in terms of tourism and attracting people to the islands Andy Ambridge

What they did not know is that the chief was a technology buff, but with little knowledge of how it all worked.

As soon as they arrived on the island, Mr Ruhl asked them to have a look at his computer set-up.

"He loves his technology but doesn't really know how to use it," Mr Ambridge told the BBC programme, Go Digital. "He loves his surfing and loves his mobile phone but that is as far as it goes."

The island was connected to the internet via a slow connection at an exorbitant $1,800 a month.

So Mr Ambridge and his friends organised a satellite broadband link.

They also helped check the computers on the island, setting up firewalls and virus scanners to protect the machines.

Just when they thought their work was done and they could drink beer by the beach, the resort manager brought out a wireless access point he had had for six months but did not know what to do with.

The device allowed Mr Ambridge to set up a small wi-fi network, covering the hotel reception, bar and front beach.

Island hopping

"There are 140 staff on the island," he explained, "so now they all have quite fast access to send mail and keep in contact with family and friends back home.

A well-deserved drink for the computer enthusiasts

"What they can do is develop a booking system so that reservations do not come in by telex but come into their database."

The manager of the Mirihi resort is delighted with the results.

"Apart from the wireless network, we are the first resort in the Maldives to have satellite internet connection, giving us a much faster connection than anyone else in the country," Mr Ruhl told BBC News Online.

"I am sure we will be adding new things as soon as they become available."

In fact, Mr Ambridge and his friends are already planning a return trip to the Maldives.

They have been talking to nearby islands about installing similar wi-fi systems.

"It would be very good for the islands in terms of tourism and attracting people to the islands," said Mr Ambridge, whose day job is running the software consultancy, Commsland.