T-Mobile announced that it would delay the planned shut down of Sprint's 3G network by three more months in order to allow its partners time to assist customers during this transition. T-Mobile originally intended to shut down the network in January. However, that date has been moved to March 31, 2022.
The company released a statement saying that it has become more apparent that some of these partners have not followed through on their promise to assist customers during this transition. We are now standing up for them.
T-Mobile's statement does not mention Dish Network by name but is likely to refer to it. T-Mobile's announcement that it would shut down Sprints legacy network due to the negative impact it would have for Dishs Boost Mobile customers has caused tension between the two sides.
T-Mobile/Sprint Merger stipulated that Dish would acquire Boost Mobile in July 2020 in order to take over Sprint's position as fourth US wireless carrier. T-Mobile had announced that Sprint's CDMA network would be shut down. Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen later compared T-Mobile with the Grinch and stated that his company was trying to migrate customers.
T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said in a blog that Dish was slow to upgrade their customers to the better 4G/5G network.
In a July letter, the Department of Justice informed Dish Network and T-Mobile that it was concerned about the shutting down of Sprint's legacy network. It urged both parties to take the necessary steps to minimize the damage to customers who still depend on the network.
