Dish Network has submitted a filing to the FCC declaring that it will meet its accelerated March 2020 FCC buildout requirement.
The buildout requirement involves a 5G/NB Internet of Things network, which Dish hopes will provide a cell radius ten times greater than what had been previously available with LTE.
The filing indicates that Dish is optimistic about 5G, and wants to see full 5G standardization completed by 2020 with trials in 2017 and 2018. It includes Dish spectrum licenses in the AWS-4 Band and Lower 700 MHz Block. The 2020 goal is accelerated from an initial March 2021 deadline.
“We do not believe that it serves the public interest or makes business sense to build out a 4G/LTE network now that would duplicate networks already offered by the wireless incumbents, and subsequently require an almost immediate upgrade in order to be competitive,” the filing reads.
According to a BTIG Research article from Wednesday, Dish may also partner with another operator, technology company, or other industry player in order to further reduce initial costs.
After six quarters of loss Dish saw its subscriber numbers grow in the first quarter of 2017, thanks in part to Sling.
Filed Under: Carriers
