SpaceX is exploring a new kind of U.S. mobile network built around Starlink equipment and the spectrum it has acquired from EchoStar. Instead of investing heavily in traditional cell towers, the company is considering smaller cellular units—potentially integrated with existing Starlink satellite dishes. For independent wireless dealers, repair shops, and prepaid retailers, this is worth watching. A Read more…
Verizon is selling 274 company-owned retail stores and cutting about 500 corporate jobs as part of its current restructuring. About 3,000 jobs are impacted all together, close to 2,500 are retail employees. The stores are being sold to about six different dealers, which will then continue to operate them as authorized Verizon retailers. The changes become effective Read more…
Our show calendar for the best show in wireless – the All Wireless & Prepaid Expo is now up! Visit us at Booth 826, make sure you see Adam on stage during the conference sessions and book time below for a timed/reserved spot: NWIDA NWIDA members, contact us today if you need our assistance. If you’re not Read more…
Dish, the satellite pay-TV subsidiary of EchoStar, along with its wireless subsidiaries, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing includes a prepackaged restructuring plan aimed at addressing immediate debt maturities and managing the wind-down of Dish Wireless’s 5G network operations. The move follows an unexpected delay in a $23 billion spectrum license sale to AT&T, a Read more…
Boom! Mobile has filed for bankruptcy chapter 11. In addition, Boom has discontinued offering their “red” service and their offering of “purple” is currently under review. At the recent MVNO Nation conference, Boom CEO, Jeff Holley, told me that Boom had been sold to a “Hollywood star” – we later learned this may be Wesley Snipes. Read more…
The FCC has proposed new “Know Your Customer” (KYC) requirements that would require wireless providers to collect identifying information from every new and renewing customer. If adopted, the proposal would effectively eliminate anonymous prepaid wireless service in the United States. Under the proposal, providers would be required to collect and retain, at a minimum: Customer name Physical Read more…
Cash App is the latest brand to jump into wireless, announcing a new MVNO offering called Cash App Mobile that runs on AT&T’s network. The setup appears to follow a now-familiar playbook: Cash App is working through Gigs (a white-label MVNO/MVNE-style provider) to bring a branded mobile plan to market—similar to how other fintech brands have rolled Read more…
NWIDA Welcomes CellPay as Vendor Partner, Expanding Prepaid Mobile Recharge and Bill Payment Access for Retailers Nationwide Today, NWIDA announced that CellPay has joined NWIDA as a Vendor Partner, expanding the range of business and consumer-focused services available to its members. CellPay provides instant mobile recharge and bill payment solutions designed to make prepaid payments easier, faster, Read more…
Noble Mobile, the MVNO launched by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, has acquired Helium Mobile. Terms were not disclosed. The deal pairs two small carriers that have the same goal: make phone service far more affordable than the big incumbents. Why this matters Both companies are built around returning value to customers rather than extracting it. Noble Read more…