EMS halts Opencard negotiations

The company eMoneyServices which owns the rights to the Opencard system used by commuters in the Czech capital, has halted negotiations with City Hall on the sale of part of the firm administering the system. The firm’s spokesman cited as the reason the upcoming communal elections. Negotiations have been ongoing for several months but both sides have charged neither has come forward with a viable solution or offer. EMS spokesman Martin Opatrný has said in the past that the company would not try and block the card’s continued use. The Opencard system cost the city 1.35 billion crowns but Prague failed to renew the license with EMS earlier this year over the amount (around 500 million crowns) which the company requested.

Author: Jan Velinger