DISH to Become National Facilities-based Wireless Carrier

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DISH to Become National Facilities-based Wireless Carrier
July 26, 2019
Will Deploy Nation's First Standalone 5G Broadband Network
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DISH Network will enter the U.S. wireless market as the fourth nationwide facilities-based network competitor. DISH has reached agreements with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, T-Mobile US, Inc. and Sprint Corporation to complete this transformative transaction. Additionally, DISH has committed to the Federal Communications Commission that DISH will deploy a facilities-based 5G broadband network capable of serving 70 percent of the U.S. population by June 2023, and has requested that its spectrum licenses be modified to reflect those commitments.

DISH_Network_Corporation_Logo.jpg


Following 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.
"These developments are the fulfillment of more than two decades' worth of work and more than $21 billion in spectrum investments intended to transform DISH into a connectivity company," said DISH Co-Founder and Chairman Charlie Ergen. "Taken together, these opportunities will set the stage for our entry as the nation's fourth facilities-based wireless competitor and accelerate our work to launch the country's first standalone 5G broadband network."

On the broader work of both the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice in facilitating competition in the U.S. wireless industry, Ergen said:

"The FCC and the DOJ are to be credited for laying the groundwork for an innovative 5G wireless ecosystem that will introduce new opportunities to American consumers and businesses, while enhancing competition in the wireless industry."

DISH's proposed asset acquisitions from Sprint are valued at approximately $5 billion, including a $1.4 billion purchase of Sprint's prepaid businesses, and a $3.6 billionagreement to purchase Sprint's nationwide 800 MHz wireless spectrum. The spectrum purchase is expected to be completed three years after the closing of the acquisition of the prepaid businesses.

"We've been here before," said Ergen. "When we entered pay-TV with the launch of our first satellite in 1995, we faced entrenched cable monopolies, and our direct competitor was owned by one of the largest industrial corporations in the world. As a new entrant, DISH encountered many skeptics who questioned our ability to succeed. But, customers loved the disruption we brought to the marketplace with innovations such as a 100-percent digital experience, local-into-local broadcast, the DVR and ad-skipping. Our substantial investments, constant innovation, aggressive pricing and commitment to the customer led us to become the third largest pay-TV provider. As we enter the wireless business, we will again serve customers by disrupting incumbents and their legacy networks, this time with the nation's first standalone 5G broadband network."

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

The transactions are subject to customary conditions including the closing of the Sprint and T-Mobile merger, government approvals, and confirmation that DISH is able to provision customers on the New T-Mobile network. Closing is expected within three months following the completion of the Sprint and T-Mobile merger.

The prepaid businesses, including Boost Mobile, serve approximately 9.3 million customers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. At close, Sprint's prepaid businesses and customers will immediately move to DISH, as will the more than 400 employees and nationwide independent retail network that supports more than 7,500 retail outlets.

DISH will activate all new wireless customers on the New T-Mobile network. Existing prepaid customers will be supported on the Sprint legacy network and will eventually transition to the New T-Mobile network.

Once DISH starts deploying its own facilities-based infrastructure, DISH's wireless customers will be able to seamlessly access the New T-Mobile network in areas where DISH has yet to deploy its own facilities. This Infrastructure MNO arrangement is part of the Master Network Services Agreement between the parties.

The 800 MHz nationwide spectrum adds to DISH's existing 600 MHz and 700 MHz low-band holdings. The low-band portfolio, well suited for wide geographic coverage and in-building penetration, complements DISH's AWS-4 and AWS H Block mid-band offerings, which promise high data capacity potential with narrower operating range.

DISH has committed to new buildout schedules associated with the company's 600 MHz, AWS-4, 700 MHz E Block and AWS H Block licenses. In addition, DISH has committed to deploy 5G Broadband Service utilizing those licenses.

The new commitments require DISH to use its spectrum to deploy a nationwide 5G broadband network covering at least 70 percent of the U.S. population by June 14, 2023. If DISH fails to meet its 5G deployment deadlines, DISH will make voluntary contributions to the U.S. Treasury of up to $2.2 billion.

Additionally, DISH and T-Mobile have committed to negotiate the leasing of DISH's 600 MHz spectrum to T-Mobile for a transitional period of time.

The arrangements also provide DISH the option to acquire certain tower, network equipment and retail assets that are being decommissioned as part of the Sprint and T-Mobile integration process.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as lead legal counsel to DISH.
 
I presume Dish and Sling programming will provide an option for 5G transmission.
The new commitments require DISH to use its spectrum to deploy a nationwide 5G broadband network covering at least 70 percent of the U.S. population by June 14, 2023.
And there is the extension... if it is an extension.

What is the "New T-Mobile network", is that the merged Sprint/T-Mobile?
 
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Yes.

I hope to see a strong third provider, instead of a modest #3 and a dying #4.

I just don’t see Dish becoming big in cell phones.

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interesting, but will the fcc extend the deadline dish is currently under?

or make meeting that deadline a requirement for the deal?
 
interesting, but will the fcc extend the deadline dish is currently under?

or make meeting that deadline a requirement for the deal?
"Additionally, DISH has committed to the Federal Communications Commission that DISH will deploy a facilities-based 5G broadband network capable of serving 70 percent of the U.S. population by June 2023, and has requested that its spectrum licenses be modified to reflect those commitments."
 
So what exactly is “facilities-based” and what other kind is there?


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so they requested it, but will it be approved?

It's what I posted weeks ago. The FCC absolutely, 100% wants a fourth Cell company, it's why I said then this is closet ever DISH has been to getting into the business and they have now. I have zero doubt simply delaying it's use won't even be a second thought.

All things considered this a huge win for DISH and it's future of delivering service.
 
The penny dropped.

I figured Dish was going to use cell technology to provide requested data to cars. Maybe serve homes and fixed locations too.

But I suddenly realized- their target customer includes governments. Central traffic control computers are coming. I think we’ve seen that. But MUCH sooner, we will see ISA and other traffic data. ISA is Intelligent Speed Assistance. It is mandatory in the EU and UK beginning in 2022. No doubt it is heading here too. Basically, one version uses GPS to know your location and speed, and limits the engine speed to slow you down to the speed limit. Another version reads speed limit signs.

But the interesting application is where the speed limit is transmitted to vehicles and the system kicks in to limit speed. This gives great flexibility in road work areas AND WHERE THERE’S AN ACCIDENT AHEAD. Once in place, the system can be used to check trucks for cargo type, notices of where charging and refilling stations are at with available spaces for vehicles getting low, and a myriad of other things we haven’t thought of yet.

Charlie can start to pitch this to local governments, and build out where they buy it. Spread that way. Could be a brilliant plan.

Currently, the speed limiting feature can be overridden by pressing the accelerator.

Costs per vehicle? Almost nothing. Most vehicles now have cameras and GPS so the only cost is software, spread across, ultimately, millions of users.

I wonder if he has a pitch ready for the NHTSA and FMCSA?


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I think this is very big news, and also a very good excuse to check SG on Friday afternoons which are normally pretty dead around here.
 
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"Additionally, DISH and T-Mobile have committed to negotiate the leasing of DISH's 600 MHz spectrum to T-Mobile for a transitional period of time."

This is probably a a method to help them meet their deadlines to put the spectrum into service.
 
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A motion to dismiss is probably on its way in each of the cases. They now appear groundless. Not that they had much merit, IMHO, to begin with, other than harassment.


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