THE Fiji Commerce Commission has labelled the involvement of only one mobile company in the e-ticketing process as a breach of the Commerce Commission Decree 2010.
FCC chairman Dr Mahendra Reddy said the commission was concerned that Digicel customers were unable to participate in the newly-introduced system.
"The commission is concerned with regards to Digicel customers not being able to participate in the e-ticketing system and we have written to the Minister of Transport," he said.
"The minister has written back to us agreeing to our concern and stating that he will look further into the matter.
"Since then we have had meetings with the permanent secretary of the ministry, Commander Francis Kean, and we await his response."
Mr Reddy said the commission noted that elements of the e-ticketing system breached the Commerce Commission Decree 2010.
"That is why we are trying to convince the team at the ministry, and to come up with solutions on how to address the issue," he said.
Vodafone corporate affairs manager Shalendra Prasad said Vodafone was chosen as a result of their participation in the expression of interest for software and back-up providers that was put out initially by the Land Transport Authority.
LTA operations general manager Josefa Vosanibola confirmed they had publicly released a statement seeking expressions of interest earlier this year. It was given to Telecom Fiji and Foneology as the console support provider of the system with Vodafone as the provider of the back office support system.
"The three companies were nominated as per their responses to the expression of interest that was put out by Land Transport Authority and they will be the sole software and back-up providers of the e-ticketing system," he said.
But Digicel CEO Maurice McCarthy has lashed out at the process involved, saying it was anti-competitive and discriminatory.
He said there was no technical reason for tying the e-ticketing system to one service provider nor was there any legitimate reason to prevent Digicel customers from using Digicel's 'Digicel Mobile Money' service to use the e-ticketing system.
"The tying conduct is potentially anti-competitive and discriminatory against Digicel customers," he said.
"It also undermines the goal of making it more accessible and convenient for Fiji citizens and residents to use the public transport system."
Questions sent to the Ministry of Transport last week remained unanswered.