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Simple trick to increase coverage: Lying to users about signal strength

6 months ago
  • #CarrierConfig
  • #SignalStrength
  • #Android
  • Android's Carrier Config manager has a flag (KEY_INFLATE_SIGNAL_STRENGTH_BOOL) that reports signal strength as one bar higher than actual.
  • AT&T and Verizon have this flag enabled, though its origin is unclear.
  • This practice, along with fake 5G indicators, undermines trust in network operators.
  • Suggests a hypothetical KEY_FIXED_NETWORK_SIGNAL_STRENGTH_INT to always show maximum reception.
  • Criticizes the disconnect between displayed signal strength and actual network performance.