Dish Network has hurled new claims of ‘Uncarrier behavior’ at T-Mobile USA. Having previously fallen out over the latter’s shutdown of its CDMA network, the new bone of contention is midband spectrum.
The new mobile entrant, which took over Sprint’s Boost Mobile prepaid division when Sprint was acquired by TMO, wrote in a filing with the FCC earlier this month: “As T-Mobile celebrates the one-year anniversary of its acquisition of Sprint, it is clear that the company’s world view has transformed to that of an entrenched incumbent commensurate with its newfound size and scale. During its earlier life as the ‘Un-Carrier,’ T-Mobile championed policies that promoted competition, diverse spectrum ownership, and efficient spectrum use. How quickly things change.”
Prior to its merger with Sprint, TMO had been on the same page as Dish, as an aggressive advocate for the type of spectrum aggregation proposals that would limit the large incumbents from foreclosing new entrants and other competitors seeking to acquire spectrum licenses at auction. TMO vehemently argued the critical role of midband spectrum for competitive carriers during the C-band auctions, noting “it is even more important for the Commission to adopt a spectrum aggregation limit for the C-band because it will likely be able to provide a particularly robust midband wireless broadband service”.
Dish Network seems to have grown tired of watching TMO flexing its midband muscles now, as it brushes shoulders with AT&T and Verizon in what TMO now proudly calls the “Big 3”. TMO no longer recognizes that the FCC’s spectrum policies are inadequate to provide competitive carriers with a meaningful opportunity to expand spectrum holdings, causing spectrum holdings to become further concentrated among AT&T and Verizon.
“It is no wonder that T-Mobile now seeks to further cement its dominant midband position through excessive spectrum concentration, a position it advocated against until it too became a spectrum-rich incumbent,” states the Dish filing.