DISH Wireless has announced that its 5G broadband service now reaches more than 70% of the U.S. population, bringing coverage to over 240 million Americans.
This milestone marks a rapid and significant achievement for DISH and the U.S. telecom sector: the company designed, built, and deployed a nationwide 5G network in just three years.
DISH also reports that it met all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commitments as of June 14, 2023, including the activation of more than 15,000 5G sites.
Dave Mayo, Executive Vice President of Network Development at DISH Wireless, praised the company’s teams:
“This achievement is a testament to their dedication and commitment as we grow the world’s first and only 5G cloud-native Open RAN network. We appreciate the continued support and efforts of our partners as DISH continues to lead the industry in Open RAN deployment.”
DISH has also become the first U.S. wireless provider to offer native 5G voice service, known as Voice over New Radio (VoNR).
VoNR first launched in Las Vegas last year and has since expanded to additional markets. The service now covers more than 70 million people across the country and is available to subscribers of Boost Mobile and Boost Infinite. DISH says it will continue rolling out VoNR as it further optimizes the network for next-generation voice services.
John Swieringa, President and Chief Operating Officer of DISH Wireless, added:
“As a leader in Open RAN technology, DISH is playing a major role in the transformation of America’s wireless infrastructure and the way the world communicates. We have made significant progress on our network buildout and can now focus on monetizing the network through retail and enterprise growth. With more markets across the country offering the DISH 5G network for voice, text, and data services, our business can start realizing the benefits of owner economics.”
Consumers can join DISH’s Project Genesis to access 5G broadband while providing feedback on network performance; Project Genesis participants help shape improvements that will benefit broader retail wireless customers. The service is offered to qualifying individuals within the 70% coverage footprint.
Boost Mobile and Boost Infinite customers with network-compatible devices can use the DISH 5G network in more than 50 markets nationwide. DISH plans to expand availability to additional markets over the coming year and introduce more devices compatible with its 5G network.
DISH confirmed it will file its FCC buildout report no later than July 14, 2023, which will provide further detail on the company’s deployment progress and accomplishments in the 5G arena.
(Image Credit: DISH Wireless)
See also: FCC to ‘consider something different’ for 42 GHz band
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