DISH Network Reports Progress on its Nationwide 5G Buildout

On July 14, DISH Network submitted to the FCC its "5G Buildout Status Report." The report summarizes DISH's progress in building out its 5G network capabilities and offerings as part of its plan to become a nationwide wireless provider. 

Pursuant to the T-Mobile/Sprint merger and legal settlement, DISH acquired Sprint's Boost Mobile brand as well as spectrum licenses, along with buildout obligations. DISH is operating Boost as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and simultaneously deploying a standalone 5G network. A 2020 FCC order requires DISH to follow through on commitments it made to offer 5G broadband services to at least 20% of the U.S. population and deploy a core network for its spectrum licenses in certain bands. 

According to DISH's 5G Buildout Status Report:

DISH is pleased to certify that, as of June 14, 2022, we offer 5G Broadband Service to 72,769,696 people in the United States. This coverage equals approximately 22 percent of the total U.S. population according to the 2020 U.S. Census with respect to DISH’s AWS-4 and AWS H Block licenses; DISH covers more than 25 percent of the population in those markets where DISH holds a Lower 700 MHz E Block license. (Emphasis in the original.)

According to DISH, its 5G service offerings became available to more than 120 cities by June 14, 2022. Its service interconnects with third party networks for 4G and 5G data roaming when out of DISH's footprint. 

Given all the unforeseen obstacles DISH has faced stemming from government-imposed lockdowns, labor shortages, microchip shortages, and supply chain problems, DISH's apparent progress is commendable. And DISH's ongoing efforts to deploy a nationwide standalone 5G network are another indicator of the competitive state of the broadband marketplace. For more on the competitiveness of the broadband services market, check out the comments that the Free State Foundation filed in July for the FCC's 2022 Communications Marketplace Report proceeding.