Airtel justifies 4G advertisement claims after ASCI rap

The telecom major Airtel has claimed that its advertisement claiming fastest internet speed on its 4G service is not misleading and is purely based on technical data collected after rigorous testing.

New Delhi: Asked by advertising watchdog ASCI to stop a 'misleading 4G ad', top telecom operator Bharti Airtel today said its claims including about fastest internet speed are based on "rigorous test conditions".

The company further said it is providing the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) with the technical data in support of advertising claims and it is following "the prescribed process to schedule a review of the said issue".

"The Company is confident of getting a favourable response from ASCI," Bharti Airtel said in a regulatory filing.

This came in response to clarifications sought from the company by the BSE on reports that ASCI had asked Airtel to Stop airing 'misleading 4G advertisement'.

Among other things, the advertisement claimed that Airtel was offering fastest internet speed on its 4G connections and was promoting a life-time free offer if any other operator gave a faster speed.

"The 4G technology is proven to deliver the fastest internet experience and the same has been accepted globally.

"Bharti Airtel is the only commercial providers of this world class technology in India and the advertising campaign of the Company revolves around the promise of fastest internet speeds and features a set of claims that are based on rigorous test conditions," the company said in its reply to the BSE.

In August, Bharti Airtel launched 4G services in 296 towns across India after testing the market in select cities.
The company had launched its first 4G network in India in Kolkata in April 2012.