It all started with Airtel when the company complained to TRAI regarding Jio’s free promotional offers. If you remember, Jio had already lodged a complained with Advertising Standards Council of India against the false advertisement that is being aired on television claiming that Airtel is “Officially India’s Fastest Network”. In that advertisement, Airtel had cited Ookla LLC, the company behind the famous app Speedtest. According to Ookla, Airtel is the fastest network in India. The advertisement is still being aired on television. Reliance Jio in the complaint lodged with Advertising Standards Council of India stated that Ookla isn’t recognized by TRAI so the word ‘Officially’ can’t be used. Now, Reliance Jio has moved to Bombay High Court against Airtel and global broadband tester Ookla for running such advertisements. Jio claimed that it had dropped reputation and money on the campaign that amounts to the conspiracy, defamation, and breach of trust, with others. Not only this, Reliance Jio had even named Ziff Davis which is a digital media company that acquired Ookla in the year 2014 in the complaint. According to the reports from economic times, Airtel labeled all these allegations as “frivolous and baseless” and reflects the “growing frustration of a competitor that has been unable to make a dent despite offering free services and predatory pricing.” Well, Reliance Jio asked for trial under Sections 204, 406, 420, 465, 499 and 120(B) of India Penal code. All these charges if turned out to be true, then Airtel and Ookla might have to pay a huge fine, a few year imprisonment or both. So, what do you think about this? Share your views in the comment box below.
