Dish has recently announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its fiber business to Mereo Network for an undisclosed amount. This strategic move aims to bolster Dish’s ongoing efforts to deploy its 5G network, a process that has been challenging. Dish Network, owned by Echo Star, also operates the Boost Mobile prepaid carrier, which stands to gain the most from the national 5G network that the company has been working to establish over the past few years. Although Dish Network’s fiber business was relatively small, it was appealing enough for Mereo Networks to pursue the acquisition.
Dish Fiber operates in 33 states and serves approximately 25,000 residential units. In contrast, Mereo Networks has over 55,000 connected residents and is recognized as one of the largest bulk service providers, with strategic partnerships across 23 states. With the acquisition of Dish Fiber, Mereo extends its service to more than 80,000 residential units and increases its coverage to 37 states. This acquisition appears to be a substantial opportunity for Mereo, even though the financial details remain undisclosed.
Matt Ostrega, CEO of Mereo Fiber, highlighted the significance of this acquisition, stating that it represents a transformational milestone for their business. The combination of Dish Fiber’s scale with Mereo’s customer service aims to create an exceptional connectivity experience for communities, emphasizing performance, reliability, and personal service. Following the acquisition, Mereo Networks plans to rebrand as Mereo Fiber, reflecting its commitment to providing high-performance fiber connectivity. Customers, property owners, and partners can expect a seamless transition and an enhanced focus on cutting-edge fiber solutions for high-density communities.
Mereo Fiber is backed by Macquarie Capital, WaveDivision Capital, and Freedom 3 Capital since November 2023.