The new Boost Mobile network, called Boost Infinite, is set to launch this fall and a source within the company tells us to expect "significantly lower prices than the Big 3," indicating that the new network will try to undercut Verizon, AT&T and T Mobile. .
The company hasn't made any official comment on pricing or launch, aside from reiterating that an announcement and offering will be made in the fall. The new network, owned by satellite provider Dish Network, has launched a website (opens in a new tab) to collect information from interested potential customers.
Dish Network acquired the Boost Mobile brand as well as part of the network's wireless spectrum as part of a multilateral agreement when T-Mobile and Sprint merged. As part of the deal, Dish is required to open Boost for new business by "mid-2022." The network will operate on a mix of AT&T and T-Mobile networks with the help of Dish Network's own wireless spectrum. Dish has already demonstrated its network capabilities in Las Vegas, where it operates a 5G network.
The Dish Network version of Boost Mobile has had several hiccups since the project began. Dish has always planned to migrate Boost to its new technology, from the old network that Sprint used to run the brand. Meanwhile, the new T-Mobile/Sprint shut down the old network earlier than Dish expected.
In addition to the new backbone, Dish said it had some new ideas about how to sell wireless plans. There have been hints that users who pay monthly for data could somehow be credited for the data they don't end up using. Executives used terms like "Web 3.0" and "digital currency," which led our friends at The Verge to conclude (opens in a new tab) that Boost will somehow credit you with cryptocurrency. It's more like executives throwing out buzzwords to advertise, but we'll wait and see how the actual plans work out.
Analysis: Eager to compete
In addition to the excitement of new technology, it will be exhilarating for the US market to see competition from a fourth mobile operator again. There is little differentiation between prices and contract options among US mobile operators, and prices are generally excessive. It's a relief to hear a Dish executive, however quietly, say that Dish's Boost Mobile will compete on price.
I'm also interested in hearing new ideas about how to handle pricing and customer data, even if those ideas seem far-fetched at the moment. Is it nonsense for an operator executive to suggest reimbursing subscribers with cryptocurrencies? Well let me see the crypto first. If Boost wants to sell me an NFT of my next Samsung Galaxy phone, I'm in.
What is not silly is to respect customers who pay for unlimited data. These days, when an operator talks about unlimited service, he leaves aside the unavoidable limitations. On T-Mobile I'm unlimited until I'm not, then the 5G part of my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G becomes useless because T-Mobile slows me down. It's refreshing to hear an operator talk about bringing unlimited subscribers back, rather than withdrawing them.