Component 1
Digital Connectivity
Component 1:Enabling Environment for Improved Digital Connectivity and Competitiveness
This component aims to foster Maldives’ digital transformation, improved regulatory foundations and institutional capacity are needed to promote affordable, quality Internet access and a robust public digital ecosystem. Investments in improved regulatory tools and institutional strengthening will contribute to a more competitive telecommunications market, which, combined with investments in digital infrastructure such as a software-defined wide area network for local island councils, will help deliver higher Internet speeds at lower costs, ultimately enabling more people to get online and to take advantage of a broader range of digital products and services. A more competitive market will also create redundancy in network services for connectivity, allowing for continued service availability in times of climatic and other shocks or disasters and enhancing the government’s disaster risk management capabilities.
The component will support the Communications Authority of the Maldives and
the National Centre for Information Technology (now Maldives Digital Service). It focuses on building their
operational capacity by providing equipment and assisting with the legislative
agenda related to the digital transformation of the Maldives.
1.1 Improving regulatory frameworks, oversight, and enforcement for a competitive broadband market
This subcomponent will focus on regulatory and institutional strengthening to enhance the competitiveness of the broadband market, and, in turn, the affordability and quality of Internet access. Activities financed will focus on reviewing and updating the regulatory frameworks for wholesale and retail broadband markets covering inter alia, infrastructure sharing, spectrum monitoring and open access to submarine cables. In addition, the project will support the design and introduction of standards for using green, low-emission and energy efficient technologies in connectivity infrastructure development projects. To ensure the effective operationalization of new and existing policies and regulations, the project will provide additional technical assistance and capacity building to CAM to improve its oversight and enforcement capacity to ensure open access and fair competition in the broadband market.
US$ 900,000
Allocation
US$ 382,186
Funds Spent
CAM
Stakeholder
2
Activity
26% Completed
Activity 1.1.1
Reviewing and updating the regulatory frameworks for wholesale and retail broadband markets covering, inter alia, infrastructure sharing, spectrum monitoring and open access to submarine cables; supporting design and introduction of standards for using green, low-emission and energy efficient technologies in connectivity infrastructure development projects.
Activity Assignments
89% Completed
Activity 1.1.2
Providing technical assistance and capacity building to CAM, developing and updating the regulatory frameworks to ensure open access and fair competition and training for its staff for improving oversight and enforcement capacity.
0% Completed
1.2 Empowering public institutions for digital transformation in government
The project will support the establishment of the Government Digital Service (GDS) and help improve the government network infrastructure across islands. The project will finance TA to support restructuring of the NCIT as an independent statutory body and the establishment of the GDS, including the development of related legislation and regulation, institutional governance frameworks, and capacity building. To enhance the quality of Internet access and enable better service delivery across islands, the project will support improvements in government network infrastructure via the implementation of a software-defined wide area network. In addition, the project will finance the development of a business continuity and disaster recovery plan for strategic digital government data assets and services to minimize downtime and data loss due to climatic shocks and other major adverse events.
US $ 1,100,000
Allocation
US$ 104,084
Funds Spent
MDS
Stakeholder
3
Activity
37% Completed
Activity 1.2.1
Providing technical assistance to support restructuring of the NCIT and the establishment of the GDS, including the development of institutional governance frameworks and capacity building.
80% Completed
Activity 1.2.2
Supporting the improvements in government network infrastructure across Islands.
50% Completed
Activity 1.2.3
Developing a business continuity and disaster recovery plan for strategic digital government data assets and services.
100% Completed