Vodafone New Zealand has admitted it exaggerated the size and coverage of its mobile network for several years. The mobile operator pleaded guilty to 21 charges brought by the Commerce Commission, the BusinessDay reports. Many of the charges related to claims Vodafone made between 2006 and 2009 about the size of its 3G network, including the claims in its "broadband everywhere" campaign. Four charges concerned the availability of a NZD 10 airtime credit offer for Supra-Prepay customers between in 2007 and 2008. Rival Telecom complained to the Commerce Commission after Vodafone claimed in a catalogue, on billboards, and in mail-outs that it had the "'largest and fastest mobile network". However, a footnote explained that the claim was based on WCDMA coverage. Telecom's network at the time used EV-DO technology. Each of the 21 charges carries a maximum fine of NZD 200,000, which means Vodafone faces a NZD 4.2 million fine when it is sentenced in September.
