A USA based consumer affairs organisation has called on the telecoms regulator to mandate publishing of actual mobile data speeds on their networks.

The group, Consumer Watchdog told the FCC that technical speed standards for "4G" mobile technology are universally ignored by U.S. cell phone companies, which now promise "faster, 4G" speeds in virtually every advertisement, "either without actually making improvements to existing products and services or without disclosing the meaning of 'faster.'"

The petition points to AT&T's advertising of the iPhone 4S as an example of 4G/data speed marketplace abuse. The petition states:

"In January 2012, AT&T began marketing the iPhone 4S as being a 4G phone, even though Apple represents it as 3G -- a fact that was reflected on the phone itself: when connected to the AT&T network, a '3G' icon appeared on the screen. Then, in March 2012, the iPhone's software was suddenly updated so the screen displayed a '4G' icon. Nothing else about the phone or AT&T's network had changed, yet AT&T immediately began an advertising campaign flaunting the phone's improved, faster 4G speeds." said Laura Antonini, staff attorney for Consumer Watchdog.

The petition calls upon the FCC to require networks to publish the average data speeds that subscribers experience while using the advertised network or device within the city or area where such advertisement appears; and national average data speeds that subscribers experience while using the advertised network or device.