NAD Urges Changes to T-Mobile, Verizon 5G Claims

The National Advertising Division upheld some T-Mobile 5G claims Wednesday but had quibbles with others, following up on complaints from Verizon. Better Business Bureau's NAD said T-Mobile’s claim to offer the “‘largest’ 5G network is substantiated and that its ‘5G speeds as fast as Wi-Fi’ claim was supported in the context in which it was presented.” T-Mobile should “discontinue the claim that it has the ‘fastest’ 5G Network or qualify the claim to indicate that T-Mobile’s 5G Network has the fastest average overall, combined 5G Network speeds” and claims that it's “‘the leader in 5G coverage and speed’ should be modified to limit the claim to its advantages in coverage and average, overall combined 5G speeds.” Tuesday, NAD gave similar mixed marks to Verizon, in response to T-Mobile complaints. NAD recommended “challenged claims be modified or discontinued, including those that overstate the benefits of 5G Ultra Wideband (5G UWB) or obscure the differences between Verizon’s wireless offerings and among its service plans.” Verizon didn't comment. “We are pleased that NAD was largely supportive of a majority of our claims,” a T-Mobile spokesperson emailed: “We plan to make minor modifications to our ‘fastest 5G network’ claim and other ads to ensure consumers have an even clearer understanding.”