DISH Network Corporation has embarked on a big business initiative that’s designed to shift it away from strictly offering direct broadcast satellite TV services that, quite often, do not offer consumers every local channel due to its penchant to play hardball with respect to any retransmission consent accords.
It involves 5G, and wireless technology. DISH just took another step toward achieving that goal, by acquiring a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that’s using the T-Mobile infrastructure.
DISH is buying MVNO Republic Wireless, a transaction that will see approximately 200,000 customers seamlessly see their services shift from the T-Mobile network to the one DISH is building out.
Rob Currie, DISH’s Senior VP of Ting Mobile and MVNO platforms, will lead the Republic Wireless business.
The Republic Wireless brand will live on within DISH. And, it perhaps could become more widely known.
Founded in 2011, Republic Wireless is known for low cost mobile phone service that defaults to Wi-Fi. When the internet is unavailable, Republic shifts its services automatically to T-Mobile’s two national GSM and CDMA networks through a partnership.
That partnership will cease once the transaction with DISH closes.
John Swieringa, DISH’s COO and Group President of Retail Wireless, said, “As we continue to grow our retail wireless business, Republic broadens our existing customer base and positions us to deliver even more value to the market, expanding our portfolio of mobile solutions to meet a variety of customer needs.”
After the acquisition’s expected Q2 2021 closing, the existing Relay division of Republic Wireless will continue to operate as a standalone company and will become a wholesale customer on DISH’s 5G network. Relay is specifically tailored to commercial customers in the hospitality, facilities management, manufacturing, healthcare and education industries.
Republic will retain its Raleigh headquarters.
