AT&T Buys EchoStar Spectrum for $23B

AT&T has reached an agreement to acquire a significant portion of wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar for approximately $23 billion.

EchoStar will retain ownership and operation of Boost, which will now operate on AT&T’s network.

This acquisition will enhance AT&T’s spectrum portfolio by adding an average of 50 MHz of low-band and mid-band spectrum, covering nearly every market in the U.S. This positions AT&T to sustain its leadership in advanced connectivity, including 5G and fiber technologies.

The deal is expected to close by mid-2026, with AT&T planning to begin deploying the mid-band licenses, which are compatible with its 5G network, as soon as possible.