Several issues have been raised from the investigation into the bus fare review undertaken by the Independent Bus Fare Review Committee.

Chair and Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission chief executive, Joel Abraham while announcing the completion of the review highlighted issues pertaining to the e-ticketing service.

Abraham says Vodafone Fiji has a monopolistic nature in providing e-ticketing services.

“The reality on the ground is that Vodafone Fiji is currently a monopoly and the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission being a competition and economic regulator, looking into monopolies. We are going to launch an exercise in reviewing the commission that is charged by Vodafone to the bus companies, different charges that are imposed for console and other services rendered and assess the reasonableness of expenditure and finally conduct an exercise for the verification of e-ticketing system.”

Abraham adds in 2013, three telecommunication companies expressed interest in providing the e-service, however, Digicel Fiji and Bula Mai has pulled out, leaving Vodafone to take charge.

Meanwhile, the review on the bus fare is in its final deliberations and a report will be passed on to the Land Transport Authority for the necessary recommendations.