Airtel stands by 4G ad despite ASCI rap

India's leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel, having been asked by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) to stop a 'misleading 4G ad', said today its claims, including that of providing the fastest internet speed, are based on ''rigorous test conditions''.

The company further said it is providing ASCI with the technical data in support of its advertising claims and it is following ''the prescribed process to schedule a review of the said issue''.

''The company is confident of getting a favourable response from ASCI,'' Bharti Airtel said in a regulatory filing.

Among other things, the advertisement claimed that Airtel was offering the fastest Internet speed on its 4G connections and was promoting a lifetime free offer if any other operator provided faster speed (See: Airtel gets ASCI notice over 'misleading' ads)

''The 4G technology is proven to deliver the fastest internet experience and the same has been accepted globally. Bharti Airtel is the only commercial providers of this world-class technology in India and the advertising campaign of the company revolves around the promise of fastest Internet speeds and features a set of claims that are based on rigorous test conditions,'' the company said in its reply to the BSE.

In August, Bharti Airtel launched 4G services in 296 towns across India after testing the market in select cities. The company had launched its first 4G network in India in Kolkata in April 2012.