A Costly Dream Fades
Dish Network's bold plan to become the fourth major US wireless carrier hit a wall. After spending billions on spectrum and building a cloud-native 5G network, its parent company, EchoStar, sold $23 billion in licenses to AT&T. The move, announced in August 2025, also shifts Boost Mobile's traffic to AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Mounting debt and slow subscriber growth forced Dish to rethink its strategy.
Back in 2019, Dish stepped up to buy Boost Mobile for $1.4 billion as part of T-Mobile's Sprint acquisition deal. The goal was clear: build a nationwide 5G network to rival AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. By mid-2024, Dish's network covered 80% of the US population with over 15,000 sites. But the costs were staggering, and Boost lost customers, leaving EchoStar with little choice but to pivot.
Boost's New Lifeline
For Boost Mobile's prepaid customers, this deal brings immediate changes. Access to AT&T's low-band 5G and T-Mobile's network means better coverage, especially indoors, where Dish's high-frequency spectrum struggled. However, subscribers might face plan migrations or device compatibility hiccups, which could frustrate some users.
The shift makes Boost a hybrid mobile virtual network operator, relying on other carriers' infrastructure while maintaining a smaller 5G network in urban areas. This setup ensures Boost's survival, as analyst Roger Entner notes, but it also dilutes its unique pitch as an independent player. Customers may see pricing stabilize, but they'll lose the promise of a fresh competitor shaking up the market.
Lessons From the Field
Dish's Las Vegas 5G rollout offers a glimpse into its ambitions and challenges. Using Open RAN and AWS cloud infrastructure, the network achieved 35% lower energy use per site compared to traditional LTE setups. Median download speeds, however, stayed below 100 Mbps, a reminder that efficiency doesn't always translate to performance users notice.
Contrast that with AT&T's strategy post-acquisition. By snapping up Dish's mid-band spectrum, AT&T bolsters its capacity for fixed-wireless access and enterprise 5G, markets where T-Mobile has gained ground. The Las Vegas case shows Open RAN's potential for cost savings, but AT&T's focus on proven spectrum bands highlights why scale and device support matter more in today's market.
What's Next for Wireless?
This deal reshapes the US wireless landscape. AT&T gains a spectrum edge, potentially closing the gap with T-Mobile's capacity lead. Verizon, untouched by the deal, benefits from a less crowded field. But with only three major facilities-based carriers left, some worry about weaker competition, especially in rural areas where pricing pressure could ease.
Studies from NYU Wireless and business schools suggest markets with four carriers see faster price drops, raising concerns about Dish's exit. On the flip side, cable operators like Comcast and Charter, operating as MVNOs, could step up, and satellite-to-cell services from SpaceX or Amazon Kuiper might fill gaps in remote areas. The FCC now faces tough questions about enforcing competition and spectrum use, while Boost's pivot opens doors for new MVNOs in IoT and enterprise markets.