BT investigated over ‘misleading’ internet speeds
BT is facing an investigation over its broadband speeds after a government minister claimed that the company was misleading MPs. The Advertising Standards Authority is launching an inquiry into whether people are signing up for deals in the belief they will receive faster speeds than reality.
BT is to be investigated after a government minister accused the firm of misleading MPs over broadband speed.
The Advertising Standards Authority [ASA] will look into whether customers think they are getting quicker internet speeds than reality when they opt into such deals.
It comes just weeks after Matt Hancock, the culture minister, accused BT of misleading MPs about the state of Britain’s high-speed broadband in a row about the phrase. Ministers insist that when companies talk about “fibre” broadband it should refer to full-fibre connections, which can bring speeds of up to 1,000Mbps.
However, companies use the same phrase when referring to part-fibre connections, which deliver far slower speeds of around 35Mbps.
There are fears that customers who spot adverts saying fibre broadband has arrived in their area believe they will get faster speeds than is the case.
Mr Hancock last night welcomed the watchdog’s intervention.
“I am very pleased to hear the ASA announce they will be reviewing the use of the term ‘fibre’ in broadband adverts,” he said.
“With both government and the private sector announcing major new investment in next-generation fibre broadband infrastructure, it is more important than ever that consumers are provided with clear and accurate information about the services available to them. Adverts should be clear, and if it’s fibre, it should say fibre. If it’s not, it should not.”
An announcement from the ASA read: “We are aware of evolving concerns about the advertising of ‘fibre’ broadband services. The term ‘fibre’ is currently used in advertising to describe both part-fibre and full-fibre broadband services.”
It added: “We are scoping a review of how we interpret the advertising codes when judging the use of the term ‘fibre’ to describe broadband services.
“In particular, we will be considering whether the use of that term is likely to cause people to be materially misled. Our work has already begun and we will provide an update with more information by the summer.”
Last month Mr Hancock criticised the way BT was using the phrase “fibre” during a debate in Parliament. The minister said a briefing pack circulated to MPs had said Britain has more properties with access to fibre broadband than Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
He said: “That is not true. It is true only if “fibre” is defined as being part fibre and part something else, whether copper or aluminium [wiring].
“If fibre is defined as being fibre, in fact we are not the best of the five major European economies, but the worst.
“Accuracy would help BT to provide more accurate briefing notes, and its use of the term ’fibre’ should be updated. I am sure that the ASA will be able to take that forward in due course.”