DISH Still Finding its (Wireless) Sea Legs

 By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) is preparing to launch its 5G facilities-based network while still learning how to run a wireless business. In its 2Q21 earnings release, the company shared that it has lost wireless subscribers even as it adds to its base of wireless users.

For the quarter, DISH acquired more than 200,000 wireless subscribers through an asset purchase agreement with Republic Wireless. At the same time, the company experienced a net decrease of 201,000 retail wireless subscribers. That followed a net decrease of 161,000 subscribers in 1Q21. The company closed 2Q21 with 8.9 million retail wireless subscribers. 

Wireless service revenues were $1.2 billion, down sequentially over four percent from $1.3 billion in 1Q21. Service revenues were up 14 percent over $1.1 billion in 3Q20 when DISH first reported on its wireless retail service business.

That initial revenue influx came with DISH’s acquisition of the Boost Mobile prepaid wireless business from T-Mobile in accordance with the Department of Justice’s Final Judgment on the T-Mobile-Sprint merger. Continue Reading