- Mereo Networks acquired DISH Fiber Internet L.L.C. from DISH Network for an undisclosed sum
- DISH Fiber is a bulk fiber internet and video content provider serving over 25,000 residential units across 33 states
- The transaction, which closed April 30, 2025, strengthens Mereo's presence across key growth markets in the Sun Belt, Mountain West and Great Lakes regions
Just when we were wondering what’s been going on with Dish, apparently it went and sold its fiber business.
Wait, since when did Dish own a fiber network? We’ll get to that. Mereo Networks, a bulk broadband provider, announced today it acquired Dish’s fiber unit. Financial details weren’t disclosed, but Mereo said the transaction combines Dish’s “impressive scale with our industry-leading customer service model.”
Dish Fiber is a bulk fiber business launched in 2019 aimed at multi-family communities. According to Mereo, Dish’s fiber biz serves over 25,000 residential units across 33 states.
What's up with Dish Network?
We really haven't heard much from Dish and its parent company EchoStar about fiber, but that's probably because they have been laser-focused on deploying standalone (SA) 5G. EchoStar in its last earnings call said Boost Mobile reached its promised 50% national 5G coverage target at the end of 2024 and noted the company is "uniquely positioned as both a satellite and mobile service provider to develop solutions with a global impact."
Keep in mind EchoStar also owns satellite broadband provider Hughes Networks.
The challenge for Dish lies in "covering that last 20%," Recon Analytics analyst Daryl Schoolar told Fierce, and the company needs to do that without breaking the bank. He noted the 20% threshold tends to be in areas with lower population density, so each site Dish builds covers a smaller percent of the population than in denser markets.
"The company also has several large loans it needs to repay," Schoolar said. "Cash from selling the fiber business should help with that."
EchoStar also recently announced plans to acquire more 600 MHz spectrum from Omega Wireless, which Schoolar said will help Dish reach its coverage goals in a "more economical" way.
Still, "Boost will struggle when it comes to competing against the other three major U.S. mobile service providers," he added, as many of Boost's subscribers are on partner mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) networks.
Mereo expands fiber reach amid regulatory shift
As for Mereo Networks, it will rebrand to Mereo Fiber as part of the deal and plans to increase its footprint of over 80,000 residential units to 37 states. Mereo is backed by investment firm Macquarie Capital as well as WaveDivision Capital and Freedom 3 Capital.
"The acquisition of DISH Fiber meaningfully increases scale and reach in some of the fastest-growing markets in the U.S., positioning Mereo Fiber as a clear leader in next-generation community connectivity," said Sam Southall, managing director of infrastructure and energy capital at Macquarie, in a statement.
Macquarie has invested in telecom companies like TPG in Australia, Rakuten Mobile and Wavenet in the U.K. WaveDivision Capital notably owns Ziply Fiber.
Mereo is beefing up its multi-dwelling unit (MDU) footprint as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dialed back its scrutiny of bulk billing arrangements. Last year, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel proposed a ban on bulk billing, arguing it's anti-competitive for an MDU to sign an exclusive agreement with only one broadband provider.
Her successor Brendan Carr naturally disagreed with the proposal and rescinded it as soon as he took over the FCC. According to Carr, a bulk billing ban is a "regulatory overreach that could have increased the cost of Internet service for Americans living in apartments by as much as 50 percent."
Update 5/1/2025 4:48 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from Recon Analytics' Daryl Schoolar.