Bermuda’s telecoms watchdog has slammed an advert by mobile firm Digicel that takes a swipe at rival Logic.

Now Regulatory Authority (RA) chairman Philip Micallef has written to Digicel chief Wayne Caines saying the ad is in “bad taste”.

The advert, which ran in today’s edition of The Royal Gazette, promotes a one-year free internet deal from Digicel — which is being investigated by the Regulatory Authority after Logic complained it was anti-competitive.

Mr Micallef said: “The advert is unlikely to fall into the category of unethical or unlawful conduct on the part of Digicel.

“However, the RA feels that is in bad taste.”

The advert promoting the home internet offer appears under a cartoon which reads: “Stop! Don’t read the ad below. Logic will thank you.” Digicel ran a similar advert earlier this month, which carried the text: “Below is the promotion Logic doesn’t want you to know about.”

Mr Micallef said that Digicel can continue to offer the deal — which Logic claims is Digicel using its muscle to gain unfair commercial advantage — while the Authority looks at the complaint.

But Mr Micallef said: “Against this backdrop, it would appear as though Digicel are using the circumstances of Logic’s complaint and the RA’s decision regarding one portion of it to gain further commercial advantage over Logic solely on the basis that Logic has used its right to complain concerning the promotion.”