You might recall that AT&T was accused by many of hyping its 5G Evolution network. While it does deliver faster download data speeds than your run-of-the-mill 4G LTE network, 5G Evolution is actually an LTE advanced network using several technological advancements like 3-way carrier aggregation. The latter helps increase the speed of internet connections by combining bands into one with wider bandwidth. This allows the capacity of these data streams to increase along with data speed. Multiple connections from cell towers to devices (4×4 MIMO) is also employed.
T-Mobile is asked to change the wording of some ads
The NAD said that it has determined that T-Mobile had a reasonable basis for making claims like:
- “T-Mobile will build America’s largest . . . 5G network.”
- “T-Mobile’s 5G network will have “more towers, more engineers, and more coverage” than the 5G networks of T-Mobile’s competitors….”
- “T-Mobile’s 5G network ‘will deliver unprecedented reach’….”
The NAD did recommend that T-Mobile modify certain claims so that it doesn’t give the false impression that some of the benefits of the merger that it has promoted will be available to subscribers immediately. Again, we do need to point out that the deal did close back in April. Those future claims were opposed by Verizon and include comments such as:
- “You’ll get the best 5G network ….”
- “T-Mobile is “building a 5G network that will deliver unprecedented . . . reliability, and the highest capacity in history.”
- “You’ll get the . . . most reliable network….”
The NAD pointed out that the evidence and arguments prevented by Verizon were not enough for the NAD to reach a different conclusion. The agency also said, “With respect to T-Mobile’s claims in the consumer-directed spot that as a result of the merger ‘you’ll get the BEST 5G Network,’ NAD concluded that consumers could reasonably interpret these claims to mean that due to the recent merger T-Mobile is imminently poised to become, comparatively speaking, the ‘Best Network,’ or that this ‘Best Network’ will be imminently available to the vast number of T-Mobile customers, or will soon provide ‘the most reliable 5G network.’ NAD recommended that the challenged advertising be modified to avoid conveying such messages.”
T-Mobile, in responding to the NAD, said that it “supports the self-regulatory process and will comply with NAD’s recommendations.”
