bigsnake49

Well, it is not mandatory and they will negotiate with T-Mobile to host their 600Mhz spectrum. I was just curious why they would negotiate for T-Mobile to host their 600Mhz spectrum and not their AWS-3 spectrum. It will be financially better for Dish to serve their customers off their own hosted spectrum rather than being a plain MVNO (depending of course on hosting fees vs MVNO). Dish will have to hire a lot of network engineers over the next 4 years.

Couple of unanswered questions for me: 1. Why is the Dish's AWS-3 not getting hosted on T-mobile's network during the transition period? 2. What are the buildout target dates for T-mobile's rural network expansion?

Then it would make sense for T-Mobile to buy Shentel's wireless business/network rather than build out their own.

Well, there you go. How good is the Shentel network vis a vis T-Mobile's network? Also how many customers does T-Mobile have Shentel's area?

Well the alternative is that Shentel and Swiftel can keep operating as independent companies but without access to Sprint spectrum after the agreement expires.

Sorry about that, I misread the T-Mobile press release. For the time being I am sure that they will honor the agreement between Sprint and Shentel and Swiftel. They might decide to buy the wireless business of Shentel and Swiftel later on.

Yes they will honor any agreements.

So that they can use it to service Dish's customers while Dish builds their network. Like I said above, I am surprised that they are not doing the same for Dish's AWS-3 block H spectrum.

You are right. From the T-Mobile press release: Effective upon the successful completion of T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint, the New T-Mobile will be committed to divest Sprint’s entire prepaid businesses including Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Sprint-branded prepaid customers (excluding the Assurance brand Lifeline customers and the prepaid wireless customers of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company and Swiftel Communications, Inc.), to DISH for approximately $1.4 billion. These brands serve approximately 9.3 million customers in total.

I think that the Shentel prepaid customers will be transferred to Dish. Something tells me that the networks will be merged with the T-mobile network serving as the base, augmented by Shentel sites where appropriate.

That was part of the press releases of both parties. T-Mobile will also hold on to 800Mhz spectrum for three years and they have an option to lease it for two more years.

Plus the Band 41 small cells that Altice deployed are very beneficial.

just make up some crap 😂!

Can you keep us informed?

From the T-Mobile press release: Master Services Agreement for Network Access With this agreement, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Sprint-branded prepaid customers, as well as new DISH wireless customers, will have full access to the legacy Sprint network and the New T-Mobile network in a phased approach. Access to the New T-Mobile network will be through an MVNO arrangement, as well as through an Infrastructure MNO arrangement enabling roaming in certain areas until DISH’s 5G network is built out. Transition Services Agreement to Support Prepaid Customers The New T-Mobile will offer standard transition services arrangements to DISH for up to three years following the close of the divestiture transaction. The transition services provided by the New T-Mobile will result in the orderly transfer of prepaid customers to DISH and will also ensure the continued and seamless operation of Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Sprint-branded prepaid businesses following transition to DISH's ownership. Agreement to Divest Sprint’s 800 MHz Spectrum Licenses to DISH DISH has agreed to acquire Sprint’s portfolio of nationwide 800 MHz spectrum for a total value of approximately $3.6 billion in a transaction to be completed, subject to certain additional closing conditions, following an application for FCC approval to be filed three years following the closing of T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint. This will permit the New T-Mobile to continue to serve legacy Sprint customers during network integration, pending later FCC approval of the license transfer. The companies have also entered into an agreement providing the New T-Mobile the option to lease back a portion of the spectrum sold to DISH for an additional two years following closing of the spectrum sale. Option for DISH to Take Over Decommissioned Cell Sites and Retail Locations Following the closing of T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint and subsequent integration into the New T-Mobile, DISH will have the option to take on leases for certain cell sites and retail locations that are decommissioned by the New T-Mobile for five years following the closing of the divestiture transaction, subject to any assignment restrictions. Agreement to Engage in Negotiations Regarding T-Mobile Leasing DISH's 600 MHz Spectrum The companies have also committed to engage in good faith negotiations regarding the leasing of some or all of DISH’s 600 MHz spectrum to T-Mobile.

Ones that have T-Mobile's frequencies on them. The ones that have band 71 on them will be able to move with no problem at all. The others that have band 66, 12 and 25 will also be able to move over. My XR can move over with no problem: FDD‑LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71) TD‑LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41) CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

I was so afraid that they would have to divest PCS or AWS spectrum.

Don't forget retail stores and leases. While Virgin Mobile is 100% online based, Dish will take over Sprint stores. In addition Boost stores will probably be retained.

I wonder why AWS H block is not being leased to T-Mobile during the transition period?

From the Dish Press release: 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.

That is a minimum number of sites. I think T-Mobile has been working behind the scenes getting ready for the merger and have already identified the Sprint sites they need. Every other site will be available over the course of 3 years.

Not in my area either.

Same here.

It's great that Dish will take over the leases on at least 20,000 sites. That means that T-mobile won't have to pay those leases off.

As part of the agreement, Sprint will divest its Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Sprint prepaid phone businesses. Sprint and T-Mobile will divest some of their wireless spectrum to Dish Network and make at least 20,000 cell sites and hundreds of retail stores available to the company. Dish will also be able to access T-Mobile’s network for seven years. State attorneys general from Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Dakota have signed onto the agreement. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/26/t-mobile-sprint-merger-approved-by-doj.html So Dish is taking over all of Sprint-owned prepaid business, not just Boost.