The Expert Council of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) intends to evaluate the advertising campaigns of telecommunications operators promoting 5G technology. As "Kommersant" found out, the reason for the investigation was the use of characteristics of the fifth-generation network in advertising, which has not yet been commercially launched in Russia. The agency sees signs of unfair competition and misleading consumers in such actions.
FAS's claims have a technical basis. As "Kommersant" previously wrote, the full launch of 5G in Russia is hindered by the allocation of the 4.8–4.99 GHz band, which requires 1.5-2 times more base stations. Currently, only 3% of devices support this band.
MTS launched the campaign "Very Soon," VimpelCom (Beeline) offers "5G network testing," and MegaFon offers "5G mode," which speeds up the internet. However, lawyers warn: advertising a non-existent service classically meets the criteria of being misleading when a consumer chooses an operator or tariff based on a knowingly unattainable characteristic.
In addition to 5G advertising, the FAS expert council will check operator promotions. "Paying for incoming calls" from Beeline and "Tariff Marketplace" from MegaFon came under suspicion. T2 has already called Beeline's practice "unacceptable" and contrary to antimonopoly legislation.
Subscriber retention programs are also at risk: the agency will check the increase in refusals when porting a number to another operator and the reduction in the duration of phone calls. FAS confirmed the meeting and promised to present its conclusions.