Do you have the double network option? If you do, somehow I doubt your declaration.
By double do you mean WiFi and Cell?
Yes I do. I’ve never activated it (cell) because I’m not traveling. In fact it’s been bugging me activate cell since the day I got it, but I have no need for it now, so I haven’t.
And again, I’ve had no problems with networking on any of my iPads. 1st gen (no cell option), third gen (cell I did activate for a while while traveling) and my current 2nd gen iPad Air (cell not activated).
Perhaps your friends networking issues are with their WiFi and not the pad.