The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned telecommunications carriers, ISPs and retailers to stop “over-promising and under-delivering” on the speeds available on mobile and wireless Internet networks.

It has published an “information paper” that among other things instructs companies that they may no longer advertise “maximum”, “up to” or “peak network” speeds if the speeds are not generally achievable, or likely to be achieved, by consumers using the network.

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said the paper is part of a broader ACCC crackdown on telecommunications advertising, and companies who don’t go along with it risk legal action.

Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Hutchison have already given court-enforceable undertakings to the ACCC that they will improve their advertising practices.