The competition watchdog claims that the public-owned phone company persisted in marketing the “JT One” package, even after it was pointed out that they had broken the rules by not giving competitors advance warning of their plans.
JT say that the fine is “extremely disappointing” and that they will not apologise for putting their customers first.
Channel Islands Competition Regulatory Authority Chief Executive Michael Byrne said that although the fine was low, future breaches may result in bigger sanctions.
He said: “CICRA has given JT every opportunity to comply with its obligations and remedy its behaviour.
“Yet JT has persisted in marketing JT One while in contravention of its obligations despite being informed by its competitors, and by the regulator, of their concerns. Instead of seeking to remedy its behaviour and do the right thing it has required a full regulatory process to get it to stop such behaviour which is disappointing.”
JT has responded, saying that the licence clause referred to is vague, and that instead of taking action, CICRA could have focused on adding clarity.
Corporate Affairs Director, Daragh McDermott, said: “We are extremely disappointed that CICRA has chosen to go down this path. It essentially fines JT for failing to give sufficient advance warning to our competitors of a new product (JT ONE) – we were focused on putting customers first and make no apology for doing so.”