AMCU fined Kyivstar UAH 17.5 million for false advertising of internet speed

The Antimonopoly Committee fined mobile operator Kyivstar UAH 17.5 million for "inaccurate information" in advertising regarding the company's primacy in mobile internet speed. This was reported by the head of the AMCU, Pavlo Kyrylenko, as reported by UNN. 

Based on the results of the case review regarding PJSC "Kyivstar", a fine of UAH 17.5 million was imposed for disseminating, due to the chosen method of presentation, inaccurate information 

According to him, Kyivstar violated Article 15-1 of the Law "On Protection against Unfair Competition" - "Dissemination of misleading information" 

The decision concerns Kyivstar's primacy in mobile internet speed, namely the statement "No. 1 mobile internet speed" in conjunction with information about the source, the periods of relevant measurements, and the average indicators obtained from their results, presented in a way that complicates its simultaneous perception with the main statement 

Kyivstar stated that they plan to appeal the fine

The company "Kyivstar" stated that they do not share the AMCU's preliminary conclusions regarding the use of the advertising claim "No. 1 mobile internet speed" and consider them unfounded.

Kyivstar emphasizes that the communication complied with the requirements of current legislation, and consumers were provided with all necessary information for proper understanding of the advertising message.

The use of research results from the independent international company Ookla®, on which Kyivstar's advertising claim was based, to confirm marketing claims is a common practice in the global electronic communications market. Kyivstar applied exactly this approach, properly disclosing information about the data source, the research period, and other essential conditions for using its results. Kyivstar will exercise its right, provided by law, to judicial appeal of the decision to impose the fine 

Recall 

Information appeared online about the launch of 5G from Kyivstar in Kyiv on July 21, but the operator called it unofficial. Pilot 5G zones have already been deployed in Lviv, Kharkiv, and Borodianka.