DISH, AT&T Agree Over Network Services, Spectrum Sharing

 By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor After its relationship with T-Mobile went south earlier this year, DISH Network has signed a Network Services Agreement (NSA) with AT&T, making the carrier the primary network services partner for DISH mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) customers. The agreement will affect customers of DISH’s retail wireless brands, including Boost Mobile, Ting Mobile and Republic Wireless, in addition to the new DISH 5G network. 

DISH agreed to pay AT&T at least $5 billion over the course of the ten-year term deal. When the agreement ends, DISH will be able to continue to use AT&T’s network service to support MVNO customers for up to two years, according to Cowen Research.

“The new deal seems to reflect some of the frustration DISH has shared of late with T-Mobile, including T-Mobile’s planned shutdown of Sprint’s 3G CDMA network, as well as their bickering over the fate of the 12 GHz band,” Cowen analysts said in a report. Continue Reading