As part of this supervisory mission, the stakeholder meeting with the Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) was held on 21st October 2025. The purpose of the meeting was to review progress on the Quality of Service (QoS) Monitoring subcomponent and discuss next steps for implementation.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Jerome Bezzina and Ms. Anna Zita Metz, Co-Task Team Leaders from the World Bank, Mr. Ilyas Ahmed (Chief Executive), Ms. Fathimath Samha, (Consultant) representing the CAM. Dr. Ibrahim Waheed (Project Manager), Mr. Ahmed Haleem (Communications Specialist) and Ms. Fathmath Shafa Hussain (Project Officer) from the D’MADD PMU.

Dr. Waheed opened the discussion by acknowledging CAM’s strong cooperation and progress under the QoS Monitoring subcomponent. Mr. Ilyas Ahmed also noted the successful completion of the initial consultancy stage, and the project has now moved into the procurement stage for QoS monitoring equipment. Technical specifications and bid documents are in the final stages of preparation, developed based on consultant recommendations and refined with CAM’s input to suit the Maldives’ market context.

Mr. Ilyas Ahmed outlined the careful approach taken in preparing the bid document to maintain neutrality and cost efficiency. Recognizing that only a limited number of global vendors can supply this type of monitoring equipment, the specifications were written in a generic and open manner to encourage fair competition. Certain requirements, such as continuous 24-hour support, were deliberately excluded to avoid escalating costs, as the monitoring activities are non-critical. CAM shared its implementation plan, which will begin in Malé and extend to a nearby island during the initial phase. Subsequent stages will expand coverage to additional islands. Two sets of equipment will enable CAM to run monitoring operations in parallel, improving efficiency. While monitoring every island may not be feasible, CAM plans to prioritize locations where quality issues are more likely or complaints are received. Monitoring will include quarterly public reports and random or complaint-driven assessments, aligning with CAM’s regulatory obligations.

CAM confirmed that all major operators have been informed about the QoS monitoring initiative and expressed willingness to comply. The team noted that service quality has improved significantly since the project was conceived, with complaints reducing following pricing adjustments and service model improvements. Despite these gains, continuous monitoring remains essential to ensure long-term service quality and regulatory oversight.

Dr. Waheed proposed involving operators in the upcoming capacity-building exercises designed by the consultant. This collaborative approach will strengthen industry alignment with the monitoring framework. Mr. Jerome Bezzina supported the idea, noting that such inclusion promotes sustainability as monitoring becomes a permanent part of the regulatory landscape.

CAM agreed the Results Framework indicators associated with QoS monitoring, focusing on service quality data and compliance. These updates will use regularly collected operator data and are expected to be completed by the end of the week. Compliance checks will become more accurate once the new equipment is operational.

The meeting concluded with optimism about timely procurement and deployment of the monitoring system by the first quarter of 2026. Both CAM and the project team emphasized collaboration and sustainability as key drivers for success.

The World Bank mission team visited the Maldives from 19th to 23rd of October 2025. This supervisory mission also consisted of conducting the midterm review of the project.