Dish said today that its Boost Mobile unit plans to acquire Gen Mobile, which – like Boost—offers prepaid wireless service. This is the latest in a string of wireless acquisitions that Dish has made since it acquired the Boost Mobile business from Sprint.
Sprint was required to sell off the Boost business as a condition of regulatory approval of its merger with T-Mobile. Dish plans to build a nationwide 5G network and Boost is Dish’s entrée into the mobile business.
The purchase price was not disclosed and a Boost spokesperson did not immediately reply to a question about how many customers Gen Mobile has.
The other wireless acquisitions that Dish has made include Republic Wireless, a mobile provider with an emphasis on Wi-Fi connectivity and Ting Mobile, the mobile business unit of broadband provider Ting.
Boost Gen Mobile Deal
Boost apparently plans to continue to use the Gen Mobile brand. A press release about the Boost Gen Mobile deal notes that Gen Mobile CEO Robert Yap will continue to lead the Gen Mobile business, reporting to Boost Executive Vice President Stephen Stokols.
“Gen Mobile has an established brand, a proven team and an unwavering commitment to connect the underserved,” said Stokols in the press release. “The brand is a natural addition as we look to reach all segments of the mobile market.”
Gen Mobile will provide Boost with “increased distribution in underrepresented communities,” Boost noted in the release.
Like most prepaid wireless providers, Gen Mobile apparently doesn’t operate its own network but instead appears to rely on a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement with T-Mobile.
Although the Gen Mobile website notes that customers can choose between “two of America’s largest CDMA or GSM networks,” it appears to be out of date. The GSM (and 5G) network that the website references appears to be T-Mobile and the CDMA network is specifically attributed to Sprint, which is now part of T-Mobile.
If so, that means the Gen Mobile acquisition would not address an important issue for the Boost business: A large percentage of Boost customers currently have devices that only work on the former Sprint CDMA network, which T-Mobile plans to shut down January 1, 2022. And some industry observers have expressed concern that Boost may lose some of those customers as the company aims to transition them.
Dish has asked the FCC to intervene with T-Mobile, arguing that T-Mobile’s CDMA shutdown plans are “an attack on low-income consumers” that use the Boost network.
This is unbelievable to shut down somebody’s phone service that they need desperately and have paid for years to have this service. With no warning no way to get another phone. Why is this happening. This is totally unacceptable
Oh No No I live on 784 dollars A Month I have Been with Boost 6 yrs When do I need to Switch My Service please Email Me An Answer I am To Proud To Have A Free Government Phone
Thank You
Deb
Go to Visible, You will have no problems.
You might want to look into U. S. Mobile. I left Boost. I am happy with U. S. Mobile. You can choose to use the T-Mobile GSM network or the Verizon CDMA network! T-Mobile has no signal at my house but Verizon (through U. S. Mobile) has been great. And I got $10 off my plan for the first month using Code: JLLNOXW
I totally agree. We have had Boost for almost 25.years. Currently we have 8 lines which would be a total breakdown of service for everyone. THIS IS NOT FAIR!!!!
ELONA
Our family service of four has been gotten worse in the past month and now is very slim to work. We live right next to a tower that is only a block away from our home and service is horrendous. Today I went up to the tower and there is only one bar of service available. At the house it’s one bar to no service available. What is going on? People have said they can’t reach me. Do we miss calls from jobs, kids schools and emergencies now? My payments are still saying “Boost”, yet we are not receiving what we continue to pay for.
This is unacceptable !
Please Help !
I’ve had Boost for years ever since they started I’m very unhappy with this and i don’t like T mobile
I was in the same boat as you.
I moved to U. S. Mobile. I am happy with U. S. Mobile. You can choose to use the T-Mobile GSM network or the Verizon CDMA network! T-Mobile has no signal at my house but Verizon (through U. S. Mobile) has been great. And I got $10 off my plan for the first month using Code: JLLNOXW
…that’s something to consider if T-Mobile doesn’t work out for you.
i was on Queerlink and thier service just as bad as T MO. so i said F@#$ IT!! canceled my account and went back to land line.
You might want to look into U. S. Mobile. I left Boost. I am happy with U. S. Mobile. I got $10 off my plan for the first month using Code: JLLNOXW
Go to Visible, You will have no problems.
Go to Visible