UPDATE DISH Network hasn’t given up on trying to get regulators to intervene and make T-Mobile keep its CDMA network operating longer. Inside Towers reported DISH already went to the FCC about the issue.
Now, DISH is asking the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) to get involved. DISH maintains that T-Mobile has gone back on its pledge to federal and state regulators to operate its CDMA network for three years after acquiring Sprint.
In its petition to California regulators, obtained by Axios, DISH wrote: “T-Mobile’s January 1, 2022 date is inconsistent with prior statements the company made to the Commission – in sworn testimony and written briefs – that the network will be operational for at least three years to facilitate a seamless transition for customers utilizing the legacy Sprint CDMA network.”
Most of DISH customers still use the Sprint CDMA network, while DISH builds out its own 5G network, according to the account. DISH asked the California PUC to reopen its merger investigation and force T-Mobile to live up to the three-year commitment.
T-Mobile has consistently said its doing what it told regulators and DISH it would do in order to get the Sprint acquisition approved. T-Mobile said it upheld its agreement and gave DISH adequate notice of its CDMA shutdown plans.
Inside Towers reported that T-Mobile told the FCC it appears DISH hasn’t made much headway in building its own 5G network and in fact, has added customers to the CDMA network each month. T-Mobile doesn’t believe regulators need to step in, telling DISH at the time, “go do your job” and build the network.
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