Boost Mobile's upcoming 5G network shutdown is unlikely to affect many U.S. mobile customers.

Boost Mobile's ambition to become the fourth major U.S. network operator ended last month after its parent company, EchoStar, bowed to pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Carr criticized EchoStar for allegedly holding spectrum without immediate plans for its use, suggesting the company aimed to profit from future valuation increases. EchoStar acquired Boost Mobile in late 2023 after purchasing Dish Network.

In late August, EchoStar sold 30MHz of 3.45GHz mid-band spectrum and 20MHz of low-band 600MHz spectrum to AT&T. These airwaves will allow AT&T to enhance its AT&T 5G+ and Nationwide AT&T 5G services, respectively. The deal, covering 400 U.S. markets, is expected to finalize next year. This agreement followed EchoStar's ongoing efforts to build a 5G network.

In early September, SpaceX acquired approximately 90MHz of spectrum from EchoStar for $17 billion, settling an FCC inquiry into EchoStar's spectrum usage. SpaceX plans to use this spectrum to expand its direct-to-cell satellite technology. The acquisition includes approximately 40MHz of 2GHz/AWS-4 band spectrum and 50MHz of H-Block Spectrum. Some believe FCC Chairman Carr's pressure on EchoStar was influenced by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's interest in the spectrum.

EchoStar will now transition to a hybrid MVNO model, utilizing its own core network while routing traffic through AT&T's infrastructure. EchoStar CEO Hamid Akhavan described the shift away from being a facilities-based carrier as a "forced pivot," acknowledging that the spectrum sale and hybrid MVNO approach were not the preferred outcome.

Ookla, known for its Speedtest website, released a report discussing Boost Mobile's 5G speeds, highlighting the impact of EchoStar's network decommissioning. The report showed that Boost's 5G median download speeds lagged behind competitors like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Last month, Ookla measured Boost's median 5G download speed at 149.55 Mbps, compared to 219.38 Mbps for the U.S. average. Boost's median 5G upload speed was 8.93 Mbps, while the U.S. average was 10.81 Mbps. Boost's median latency was 61 milliseconds (ms), exceeding the U.S. median of 50 ms.

As of June, Boost had 7.357 million wireless subscribers. Ookla suggests that Boost may sell its remaining AWS and CBRS spectrum licenses to Verizon. Boost had been utilizing Band n71 (600 MHz), Band n66 (AWS), and Band n70 (AWS-4) spectrum bands for its customers. Although EchoStar possesses licenses in other bands, such as 3.5 GHz CBRS and 3.45 GHz, it lacked the necessary equipment to deploy them.

Boost has relied on AT&T and T-Mobile to supplement its network. Ookla's testing indicated that Boost heavily utilizes AT&T's network, especially in metropolitan areas and on rural routes. Once the deals with AT&T and SpaceX are finalized and Boost relinquishes the sold spectrum, the new hybrid MVNO Boost will likely depend on AT&T's network.

Boost will now operate as a hybrid MVNO, rather than becoming one of the nation's Big 4 carriers alongside AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.