The Latest In Reliance Jio Vs Airtel Over 'Fastest Mobile Network'

After Reliance Jio challenged Airtel's claims in ads that it was the "fastest mobile network" in India, Ookla, a firm that deals with internet performance testing, defended its ranking by saying on Tuesday that the test was based on Q3 and Q4 data of 2016. Comments from Ookla came a day after Reliance Jio had submitted a complaint against Ookla's testing to advertising watchdog ASCI or Advertising Standards Council of India.

Reliance Jio has said in its complaint to ASCI that Bharti Airtel's claim of being "officially the fastest network" is "misleading" and done in "mala fide manner in collusion with" Ookla, a claim dismissed by Airtel.

"Ookla has boldly stated that they stand by their results and has skirted the main issue. We will initiate actions as we deem fit at appropriate forums. The public should not be misled by these false claims based on the Ookla results," said Reliance Jio spokesperson on Tuesday.

Bharti Airtel defended its position on Tuesday saying the complaint is a deliberate attempt to "malign the brand" and "misguide customers". (Read: Airtel hits back at Jio on speed ad with Ookla backing)

Mobile internet speed testing firm Ookla has stood by the finding that Airtel had the fastest mobile network in the country, a claim which has been challenged by Reliance Jio. "Ookla fully stands behind Airtel being named 'India's Fastest Mobile Network'," Speedtest (an Ookla app) COO Jamie Steven said in a statement.

Ookla had named Airtel as the "Fastest Mobile Network" in India, a status challenged by Reliance Jio.

Bharti Airtel's chief brand officer Rajiv Mathrani said that the company is "rather amused" by the allegations being made against its campaign. "We believe that this is a deliberate attempt to malign our brand and misguide customers through a campaign of misinformation, which is something we now come across on a regular basis, in particular, on social media platforms," he said.

"Ookla named Airtel as the 'Fastest Mobile Network' in India based on data from Q3 and Q4 of 2016. When analysing markets, like India, we take many factors into consideration, including dual SIM devices, network technology, device types and more," said Mr Steven of Speedtest.

"In addition to what the user sees on their mobile application as they take a test in real time, we apply a rigorous methodology while aggregating the data which uses a variety of internal data sources that control potential variability in the market," he said.

Reliance Jio, which has over 100 million subscribers, has also separately served a legal notice to Ookla for what it has termed as its "flawed" test.

Jio told ASCI that Ookla does not have any accreditation from the Indian government.

"Without prejudice to the above, in any event, the way the award is being projected misleads the public into believing that Airtel has the fastest network today, that is when the advertisements are being aired/published," the letter said.