Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Fear No Sprint

Sprint (at least through our portals) has seen a reduced number of signups.  We can only guess it's because of the impending merger with T-Mobile.  You need to think contrarian!  Sprint is offering some great deals right now that will be valid for quite a while after any merger deal is finalized.  Historically, that has meant shrewd buyers have been able to buy into the new network at the old network's reduced price.

Related: Sprint Goes Price Happy

Sprint users already have roaming access to T-Mobile's broadband network and that door will open even further if a deal is approved.  Be aware this applies to real Sprint customers.  If you have Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile or Sprint's own Prepaid, you may get shipped over to Dish Network's new, unknown 5G network, but even that will take years to complete.  In the meantime, Sprint has one of the better 5G networks and that may be the case for the next few years. Have no fear!


Thursday, August 1, 2019

DISH Wireless Agreement with the FCC

This a condensed review of what Dish Network has agreed with the FCC to do in agreement with the T-Mobile - Sprint merger.

Dish has committed to the Federal Communications Commission that it will have deployed a core network and offer 5G broadband service to at least 20% of the U.S. population by June 2022. And by June 2023, Dish’s 5G network must cover at least 70% of the U.S. population with download speeds of at least 35 Mbps. In regards to Dish's AWS-4, 700 MHz, and H Block licenses, if Dish hits a 50% coverage threshold by the 2023 deadline it will be granted an automatic two-year buildout extension. In addition, by 2023, it must have at least 15,000 5G sites deployed and at least 30 megahertz of Dish’s downlink 5G spectrum averaged over all its deployed 5G sites nationwide.
Dish agrees not to sell its AWS-4 or 600 MHz licenses for six years without prior FCC and DOJ consent, unless that sale is part of a larger sale of Dish itself. 
In order to begin the process of setting up its wireless network, following the completion of the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile, Dish will:

  • Acquire Sprint's prepaid businesses and customers, including Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and the Sprint-branded prepaid service.
  • Acquire 14 MHz of Sprint's nationwide 800 MHz spectrum.
  • Access the New T-Mobile network for seven years, including the ability to serve Dish customers seamlessly between T-Mobile's nationwide network and Dish's new independent 5G broadband network.
Dish's purchase of Sprint's nationwide 800 MHz wireless spectrum is expected to be completed three years after the closing of the acquisition of the prepaid businesses.

We have posted the potential coverage for the new Dish Wireless network at CellularMaps.com.