In 2020, both DISH Wireless and T-Mobile achieved major goals in their wireless journeys. Because of the government worrying about monopolization, Boost Mobile was sold to DISH Wireless which would allow T-Mobile to complete its merger with Sprint. It also provided the perfect entry for DISH into the wireless industry after collecting spectrum for years.
But now, DISH Wireless is saying that T-Mobile is not abiding by the terms of its deal with its efforts to shut down its CDMA network by January 2022. The issue at hand is that many Boost Mobile customers still rely on the network to stay connected. DISH is now requesting that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reopen the proceedings of the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint because it does not feel that there is adequate time for DISH Wireless or its customers to handle such a drastic change. This is in part because the cloud-native 5G provider is claiming that T-Mobile’s President of Technology Neville Ray, stated while under oath that transitioning from its CDMA network would be a process that would take three years.
DISH Wireless is also wary that this could be a ploy to regain customers lost from having to sell Boost Mobile, but T-Mobile believes it is working well within the contract and its stipulations. The “un-carrier” gave DISH Wireless more than six months notice that the shut down was to occur and has stated in the past that phasing out its wireless networks from previous generations.
T-Mobile and the CPUC have had a bit of a bumpy road regarding the merger and DISH Wireless is bringing up valid concerns that go beyond what T-Mobile is addressing. This means we could be in for a bit of an uncomfortable chapter as this continues to unfold. One of the main concerns by DISH Wireless is the fact that its customer base is prepaid instead of postpaid. Because Boost Mobile customers can gain service without providing contact information such as an address or even an email address, it can be difficult to alert the millions of subscribers to potential changes to their wireless service. Displacement in some markets due to an economic downturn as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is further complicating these efforts as well for DISH Wireless.
Source: Fierce Wireless
