Bus e-ticketing system under review

Minister for Communications Ioane Naivalurua has signalled a possible shift in Government’s approach to the bus e-ticketing system to allow other service providers alongside Vodafone Fiji Pte Limited.

“I just want to improve things,” Mr Naivalurua told this masthead.

The current bus e-ticketing system has been heavily criticised and labelled as a failure with the public lodging complaints with the Consumer Council of Fiji.

Mr Naivalurua, who assumed the communications portfolio on Monday following a Cabinet reshuffle, said he would look into expanding the e-ticketing system to include other providers.

“Yes, other aspects. Everything that you do, you try and improve,” he said.

Consumer Council of Fiji chief executive officer Seema Shandil said the council had received complaints about the current system and had worked with the former line minister, Manoa Kamikamica.

Mr Naivalurua’s comments come as Sole Fintech continues to push for approval to enter the market with its ready-to-deploy system.

“It is now one year since we advised the Ministry for Trade, Co-operatives and SMEs that we have a solution ready for the market,” Sole Fintech chief executive officer Semi Tukana said.

“We believe Government should be technology neutral and to always let the people and the bus operators decide.”

Mr Naivalurua said he needed time to understand the technical issues before making substantive comments.

“I’m familiar with the communications sector. It’s something that I can look into,” he said.