Dish Says It Met Its FCC Deadline To Cover 70 Percent of the US Population 13
According to Dish, the company says it now covers 70 percent of the U.S. population and has "also satisfied all other June 14, 2023 FCC commitments." The Verge reports: In meeting this FCC milestone, Dish says it has deployed over 15,000 5G cell sites and would like to remind us that it's still the first wireless provider in the country to launch voice calling over 5G, known as VoNR -- Voice over New Radio. This is all well and good, but Dish's wireless service still doesn't look quite the same as AT&T's or Verizon's. The network itself is very much still in beta testing under its Project Genesis program, which requires you to purchase a new phone specially equipped to use new network features like three-carrier aggregation. The network is available to Boost customers in supported markets, but they need to use a phone that supports band 70 to access Dish's 5G -- and those are still uncommon.
70% population isn't as great as you may think (Score:4, Insightful)
Considering how concentrated the US population is, reaching 70% of the population basically means that you have to cover the bigger cities.
Reaching that "75% area" goal by 2025 is way more difficult.
Re: (Score:2)
Even 75% is feasible within a reasonable time. Wait until you are at 95% of the population, or even better - 95% of the surface area.
I thought (Score:2)
That Dish was a satellite company?
Shouldn't it cover 99% (of the lower 48)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
And they later bought an MVNO called Ting (on T-mobile or AT&T - you get to pick), which I use. So they're already a wireless provider with an existing customer base. I'm not ready to hand over my T-mobile sim, though. Coverage is actually pretty good where I am. Dish Wireless also owns Boost and Republic, so they're looking to probably convert their customer base over eventually.
Unnecessary side note: Ting Mobile split from Ting proper, which is now owned by Tucows.
Re: (Score:2)
Also note that if you have a "V1" SIM from Ting, you're on the Verizon network, and your customer records weren't sold to Dish, meaning you get better customer service, but you may have to contact the Ting Internet number to get the right customer service folks.
What's the "problem," exactly? (Score:3)
it's still the first wireless provider in the country to launch voice calling over 5G, known as VoNR -- Voice over New Radio.
So "new radio" - doesn't that imply that "old radios" might not be compatible?
This is all well and good, but Dish's wireless service still doesn't look quite the same as AT&T's or Verizon's.
Is that the stated goal of VoNR? To recreate AT&T or Verizon's network? And was that the June 14,2023 commitment? No.
The network itself is very much still in beta testing under its Project Genesis program, which requires you to purchase a new phone specially equipped to use new network features like three-carrier aggregation. The network is available to Boost customers in supported markets, but they need to use a phone that supports band 70 to access Dish's 5G -- and those are still uncommon.
OK, again, their commitment was to install some 15,000 cell towers, and they did - Yay.
But somehow you are trying to make this an issue because your current phone doesn't support new, previously undeployed, services like operating in "band 70" or "three-carrier aggregation"? Why would you think your current phone would support these services?
It's literally been a week since they deployed the hardware, perhaps cut them some slack to shake out the kinks and get everything up to your loft standards?
Re: What's the "problem," exactly? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Some phones support 5G data and 4G voice (Score:2)
So "new radio" - doesn't that imply that "old radios" might not be compatible?
Correct. However, just because a phone has 5G NR (fifth generation new radio) doesn't mean it can make and receive voice calls over 5G NR. Some phones that do 5G data have only VoLTE (voice over long term evolution), which can make and receive calls over the 4G network. It reminds me of previous years, when some phones could do voice over 2G/3G (GSM/UMTS or CDMA2000) but not VoLTE. Compare stories from three years ago (July 2020) when AT&T [slashdot.org] and T-Mobile [slashdot.org] gave advance notice that they would stop providing
VoNR = 5G voice calls, right? Really the first? (Score:2)
Random company is first to use new tech? Somehow I doubt it. Or am I misreading this page from this other page?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Which mentions AT&T at the top of the US list. Or is that just spectrum they bought and will use later? I don't work for any cell company and don't track stuff much (as long as it keeps working).
Hooray? (Score:2)
[Dish] would like to remind us that it's still the first wireless provider in the country to launch voice calling over 5G, known as VoNR -- Voice over New Radio.
When T-Mobile shut down 3G voice calling and I had to get a new phone that supported VoLTE, I'll admit the audio quality of voice calls was better. But it wasn't like I couldn't understand anyone before. Considering how little people actually use their smartphones for normal phone calls now, does Dish think anyone besides them really cares how the call is being carried?
i doubt it. (Score:2)
I think they bought their way to coverage, or they're just covering southern California and New York City, Even then, they're probably counting U.S. residents who've flown through JFK or LAX as 'covered'.