Dish Network confirms that it will become a US national mobile operator

After the latest news about the major hurdle of T-Mobile's merger with Sprint, Dish Network has officially confirmed that it will become a major US carrier.

As part of the T-Mobile / Sprint merger, the US Department of Justice has reached an agreement with both parties if Dish is well-equipped to manage Sprint's prepaid activities and deploy its own national network.

Dish is committed to the FCC to roll out a 5G national network covering 70% of the US by 2023. As part of the merger, Dish will acquire Sprint's prepaid businesses, including Boost Mobile. , Sprint prepaid and Virgin Mobile. It will purchase 14 MHz of Sprint's 800 MHz spectrum and will have access to the new T-Mobile's network for seven years while developing its customer base and deploying its 5G network.

These developments represent the achievement of more than two decades of work and investment of more than $ 21 billion in spectrum, aimed at transforming DISH into a connectivity company. Together, these opportunities will set the stage for our entry as the country's fourth-largest wireless network with competing facilities and accelerate our work for the launch of the country's first 5G stand-alone broadband network. – Cofounder of DISH and President Charlie Ergen

Dish's $ 5 billion stake in Dish will include a $ 1.4 billion payout for Sprint's prepaid business and a $ 3.6 billion contract to purchase a slice. of the 800 MHz spectrum of Sprint. The spectrum transaction will be finalized three years after the closing of the acquisition of Boost, Virgin and Sprint prepaid.

Dish is in a very interesting position. Although the merger is still subject to conditions and not yet 100% closed (but very close), Dishon will be able to create a subscriber base using the existing Sprint and T-Mobile network while creating its own 5G network. independent. Theoretically, Dish could be a customer base over the next seven years and, when the time comes, it can divert its customers from its 5G network only.

Considering that Dish is also new in 5G business, it will also be able to create a customer base for domestic 5G broadband internet. Personally, I hope Dish can disrupt the monopolized activity of the cable Internet in the United States. It would be really nice to have options outside of one or two providers in a given area and this could give cable companies a reason to better treat their customers.

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