State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition in the Republic of Armenia (SCPEC) has decided to fine ArmenTel CJSC at the amount of AMD 500 thousand for ‘unfair competition’.

SCPEC chairman Artak Shaboyan said that ArmenTel misled Hi-Line service users, who connected to Internet in the framework of campaign announced in March 2010.

Although the advertisement promised “AMD 0 for connection, AMD 0 for modem and AMD 0 for the first month of usage”, subscribers, who experienced difficulties in connecting the internet themselves, had to resort to a paid service (AMD 300) of a third company – AA Soft – which delivered modems according to an agreement with ArmenTel.

Meanwhile ArmenTel juridical department head David Sandukhchyan opposed the decision, saying that the “SCPEC expert do not see the difference between ‘service activation’ and ‘computer setting’.”

The company intends to appeal the Commission’s decision in the court.