According to a report, EchoStar may be considering a big move to revive its struggling Boost Mobile brand. The report suggests that EchoStar is exploring a potential partnership with MobileX, a company led by Peter Adderton—who originally founded Boost Mobile over two decades ago.
Fierce Network cites unnamed sources who say talks are happening behind the scenes, although neither EchoStar nor Adderton have officially confirmed the discussions. The idea appears to be a possible collaboration between Boost and MobileX, which could help EchoStar inject new energy into its prepaid wireless business.
Boost Mobile has lost millions of subscribers in recent years, dropping from over 9 million in 2020 to roughly 7 million today, according to the report. Meanwhile, Adderton’s MobileX is quietly gaining traction with its customizable, AI-powered plans, now available in thousands of Walmart locations.
Boost was originally launched by Adderton in 2000 and eventually sold to Nextel, then folded into Sprint, before being acquired by Dish (now EchoStar) as part of T-Mobile’s merger deal in 2020. Since then, Boost has struggled with branding, customer losses, and delays in building out a competitive wireless network.
Fierce Network also notes that EchoStar has been under pressure from the FCC regarding missed deadlines tied to its 5G spectrum licenses. There have even been reports that the company is preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing amid regulatory scrutiny and financial issues.
If a Boost–MobileX partnership does come to life, it’s not clear how the two companies would navigate their existing network arrangements. MobileX currently operates on Verizon’s network, while Boost relies on a mix of EchoStar’s own network, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
According to Fierce Network’s wireless analyst Jeff Moore, Boost has tried to act like a postpaid carrier but hasn't had the scale to succeed. A MobileX tie-in could help align Boost with a more flexible and prepaid-friendly approach that better matches its core customer base.
For now, it’s all speculation, but if EchoStar does decide to team up with Adderton again, it could mark a turning point for Boost Mobile—and a chance to reconnect with the brand’s original spirit.
Source: Fierce Network
