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Articles for Category Tag - Advertising Standards

Problems Remain – CMA Updates on Ofcom Loyalty Penalty Fixes

21st January, 2020 (0 Comments)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued its annual update on Ofcom’s progress toward tackling the “loyalty penalty” in UK broadband ISP and mobile services, which can result in existing customers paying “significantly more” than new ones. Overall the progress has been good, but not all operators are playing ball.

Electrosensitivity UK Ad Banned for Claiming 5G is Dangerous

8th January, 2020 (35 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a “misleading” advert by campaign group Electrosensitivity-UK after it wrongfully claimed that the roll-out of ultrafast 5G mobile networks could result in a range of health effects, such as “reduced male fertility, depression, disturbed sleep and headaches, as well as cancer.”

ASA UK Ban TalkTalk’s Misleading Fibre Upgrade Email Adverts

9th October, 2019 (6 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned two email adverts for TalkTalk’s ISP after they “misleadingly” told customers that “your usage is affecting your broadband service” and “you’ve hit your limit 3 times in 30 days” before recommending an upgrade to “fibre“, even though neither user was at such a “limit“.

TalkTalk UK ISP TV Advert Pulled Over Incorrect Speed Promotion

22nd August, 2019 (5 Comments)

One of TalkTalk’s TV adverts has been pulled after the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found it to be incorrect, which occurred because the connection speeds referenced in the broadcast’s voice-over did not match the speeds being promoted in the broadband provider’s on-screen text.

EE Get the Hump Over Three UK’s “Real 5G” Mobile Advert Claim UPDATE

19th August, 2019 (16 Comments)

“If it’s not Three, it’s not real 5G” said Three UK this morning (here) when promoting the launch of their new 5G based ultrafast mobile broadband network. In response rival operator EE (BT) is reported to have lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over the slogan, which they say is “misleading“.

Ireland Doing What the UK ASA Failed to do – BAN “Fake Fibre” Ads

24th July, 2019 (10 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority‘s decision to allow slower “part fibre” (hybrid fibre) broadband ISPs to use “fibre” terminology in their broadband adverts is starting to look increasingly silly, particularly now that Ireland has joined a number of other countries by moving to ban such promotions.

Broadband Segregation Risk as ISPs Shun Slower Speed ADSL Lines

20th July, 2019 (41 Comments)

A few years ago Sky Broadband became the first ISP to stop accepting orders from UK customers on lines – often rural ones – where speeds were stuck below 2Mbps (here). Sadly more providers appear to have joined this club of shunning those on slower lines, which for some may exasperate the feeling of digital exclusion.

ASA Ban TalkTalk UK ISP Adverts for Misleading Better WiFi Claims

10th July, 2019 (15 Comments)

Budget ISP TalkTalk has become the third broadband provider this year to have several adverts banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over misleading claims about the WiFi performance of their bundled router hardware, which occurred after a complaint by BT prompted the watchdog to investigate.

Sure Mobile Ads Banned for Claiming to be Jersey’s Fastest Network

1st May, 2019 (2 Comments)

A complaint by JT (Jersey Telecom) has prompted the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to ban a “misleading” Facebook and website advert for mobile operator Sure, which claimed to be both “Jersey’s fastest mobile network” (mobile broadband) and also “officially the fastest in the Channel Islands.”

Speed Confusion Gets Vodafone UK Gigafast Broadband Ad Banned

17th April, 2019 (16 Comments)

Cable ISP Virgin Media has successfully nudged the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to ban Vodafone from using the term “Gigafast” to generally promote their slower Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) based broadband tiers, which offered average speeds that range from 100Mbps to 900Mbps (i.e. not only 1Gbps).

Cityfibre Lose Case Against “Misleading” Fibre Broadband ISP Ads

15th April, 2019 (61 Comments)

The UK High Court of Justice has today dismissed Cityfibre’s Judicial Review of the Advertising Standards Authority’s decision to allow slower “part fibre” (hybrid fibre) ISPs to use “fibre” terminology in their broadband adverts, which Gigabit capable “full fibre” (FTTH/P) providers have long felt to be “misleading“.

ASA Rules Sky Broadband Made Misleading WiFi Claims in TV Ad

6th March, 2019 (2 Comments)

Complaints made by UK ISPs BT and Virgin Media have today resulted in the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banning a TV advert for Sky Broadband, which was found to have been “misleading” in its claims that their tech team could easily boost WiFi throughout your home with a simple action.

ASA Ban TalkTalk Ads for Misleading Mid-Contract Price Rises Claim

27th February, 2019 (11 Comments)

A complaint by UK broadband ISP Plusnet has resulted in the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banning a website and TV advert for TalkTalk’s service, which saw them “misleadingly” claim to be the “only major provider to guarantee no mid-contract broadband price rises on all our plans.” Except they aren’t.

BT Advert Banned for Misleading “UK’s most powerful Wi-Fi” Claim

27th February, 2019 (12 Comments)

A complaint by UK cable ISP Virgin Media has resulted in the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banning a couple of BT adverts after they misleadingly claimed their Smart Hub broadband router could deliver the “UK’s most powerful Wi-Fi vs. major broadband providers.” It’s not the first time that’s happened.

CMA Seek Urgent Action to Tackle Mobile and Broadband Loyalty Penalties

19th December, 2018 (2 Comments)

The Competition and Markets Authority has concluded its “super-complaint” probe into how UK consumers who remain loyal to a broadband ISP or mobile operator often end up paying “significantly more” than new customers. In response they’ve called for “urgent action” to tackle related issues and protect vulnerable users.

South Norfolk UK Claims 100% Coverage of 10Mbps+ Broadband

4th December, 2018 (6 Comments)

The South Norfolk Council claims to have been successful in its ambition, which sought to be the first rural district in East Anglia to ensure that every home and business can order a broadband ISP connection with a minimum download speed of 10Mbps. But to get it you’ll have to sign-up with a wireless ISP.

FTTH Council EU Issue Open Letter Calling for End to Fake Fibre Ads UPDATE

3rd December, 2018 (14 Comments)

The President of the FTTH Council Europe, Ronan Kelly, has published a new open letter to EU telecoms ministers, which calls on them to stop “misleading fibre advertising” by UK and EU broadband ISPs that offer hybrid fibre services (e.g. FTTC); these are often significantly slower and less reliable than “full fibre” (FTTH).