- Your Android phone may be lying to you about signal strength, showing more network bars than it actually should.
- Telecom providers can exploit a hidden Android feature to show you an “inflated” signal strength.
- AT&T and Verizon have already been spotted using this tactic.
Telecom carriers often battle over broader coverage, the number of zip codes covered by 5G, and faster speeds. These claims, based on the carriers’ own marketing teams, paint a picture that’s far from the actual scenario and are often even contradicted in actual reports by independent parties. However, while it’s natural for corporations to paint a brighter picture, Google has been found colluding with carriers, allowing them to display fake signal strength on your phone.
Beyond tall marketing claims and fake 5G icons, carriers may also be lying through their teeth to you about signal strength. A recent report by Nick vs Networking highlights a flag, KEY_INFLATE_SIGNAL_STRENGTH_BOOL, in the source code for Android’s Carrier Config Manager, related to artificially “inflating” the network strength.