Finland?s Move To Telecom Truth In Marketing

Consumers in most countries are left to evaluate broadband and mobile speeds for themselves when they buy telecom services. But now, the Finnish telecom regulator, Ficora, has decreed that sellers must reveal true mobile and landline speeds. As one report said:

"The speed included in the contract must depict the true speed range of the connection with sufficient precision. The regulator said that it is not sufficient to only express the maximum speed or theoretical maximum speed of the broadband connection."

Ficora gave telecoms no easy way to obscure or fudge the data. Companies must use either average data transmission speed or precise maximum and minimum. In addition, "The speed must be defined so that the promised quality can also be delivered during rush hour or during any sequence of maximum of four hours."

On mobile smartphones, companies must provide information on how different network technologies result in different broadband speeds.

Speed Matters has campaigned for accurate connection information.

Finland to Require Mobile Broadband Speeds to Be Included in Customer Contracts (Cellular News, Nov. 1, 2011)