Ting Mobile assets to DISH, changes mobile strategy — Tucows sells

Firm switches from selling mobile directly to consumers to providing MVNO platform.

Tucows (NASDAQ: TCX), a domain name, fiber internet access, and mobile services provider, is selling its mobile services client base to DISH (NASDAQ: DISH).

DISH will not pay any consideration upfront but will pay Tucows an earnout on the client base over time. Tucows stated the transaction will be neutral to slightly negative for 2020 EBITDA.

Tucows will transition from being a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that resells other mobile networks under its Ting brand to a mobile services enabler (MSE). This means it will provide backend services like billing, provisioning, and client service to mobile services providers.

As part of the deal, DISH will move its Boost Mobile client base to Tucows’ MSE platform, likely at the end of next year.

Tucows will eventually become the tier 2 support for DISH mobile clients.

DISH will be able to use the Ting brand for up to two years. It has the option to acquire the brand, at which point Tucows will rename its Ting fiber internet services brand.

Tucows’ move comes as it faces headwinds in the mobile business. Ting grabbed market share by focusing on client service and simplified pricing models. Competitors have adopted their simplified model. Ting’s relationship with T-Mobile also soured, and it was spending heavily to transition backend services to Verizon.

As DISH moved into the U.S. mobile market, Ting faced an additional strong competitor. Instead of competing with DISH, Tucows now plans to profit from the firm’s entry.

Investors appear to approve of the move. Shares in Tucows are up 12% at the time of publication.