6G Internet adverts criticised for ‘misleadingly implying’ existence of 6G | Science & Tech News
6G Internet instructed the Advertising Standards Agency it supplied broadband companies underneath its identify with out complaints from clients or different authorities since 2013, and was not implying the existence of an precise 6G community.
By Tom Acres, expertise reporter
A broadband supplier has been slapped down by the promoting watchdog for misleadingly implying the existence of 6G.
6G Internet was the topic of a grievance about claims on its web site and in a leaflet.
6Ginternet.com displayed the corporate brand and the promise of “full fibre speeds at affordable prices”, with a complete web page devoted to “the 6G Internet story”, detailing how its community operates.
The web site additionally refers to “Wi-Fi 6 router benefits” as much as “40% faster than Wi-Fi 5”.
Similar claims had been made within the leaflet, which marketed a “better than half price sale” and a free router supply.
The complainant prompt the corporate’s very identify implied the existence of a sixth-generation cellular community, when the latest out there customary stays 5G.
Regardless, 6G Internet instructed the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) it had supplied broadband companies underneath its identify with out complaints from clients or different authorities since 2013.
The firm mentioned because it was clearly marketed as a house web supplier, providing “Wi-Fi 6 router benefits”, any shoppers would perceive it was not providing improved cellular information speeds.
Somewhat confusingly, Wi-Fi generations use an identical naming conference to cellular community speeds – and are at an identical level of their numbered lineage.
Read extra:
What is 5G and why does it matter?
Britons ‘nonetheless ready to really feel 5G advantages’
2020: Why is 5G expertise so vital to Britain?
6G reference ‘more likely to mislead’
The ASA mentioned it understood the distinction in what 6G Internet supplied and precise 6G information speeds, however warned shoppers would seemingly conflate them.
It additionally mentioned as a quantity of routers now again up their broadband functionality with 4G or 5G connectivity, cellular and residential web expertise couldn’t be solely separated anyway.
6G Internet was additionally criticised for references to its “innovative network” that makes use of “fibre optic cables and wireless technology” relatively than the “old-fashioned copper wiring” and “out-of-date” tools most suppliers use.
The ASA mentioned it might make clients assume the agency supplied a “more advanced” resolution that operated otherwise.
“We concluded that the name ‘6G Internet’ was likely to mislead in the context of its presentation in the ads,” it mentioned.
6G Internet was ordered to not run the adverts once more in such a type, and to not suggest a sixth-generation cellular community truly existed and may very well be utilized by shoppers.
Sky News has contacted 6G Internet for remark.
