Overview: Project Genesis / Boost Mobile by Dish Wireless (Cellular Data Plans)

Project Genesis

Dish's first foray into selling plans launched in May 2022 under the name Project Genesis, offering service in Las Vegas, NV.

As of mid 2023, they have coverage of approximately 70% of the US population.

Dish is bragging that it is launching the "First True 5G" native network in the nation, and headed out the gate with some extremely aggressive pricing on unlimited data plans.

Initially Project Genesis offered a phone and mobile hotpsot plan. As of early 2024, both plans are no longer available for new customers, but existing customers are grandfathered. 

Because of the technology being employed, customers must use Project Genesis devices. There is currently no BYOD option, you must purchase a device from them. 

Plan Specifications

• Plan Name: Smartphone Plan **TOP PICK**
• Carrier Networks Used: Dish Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T
• Carrier Relationship: Direct, Partnerships with T-Mobile and AT&T
• Plan Types Available: Smartphone
• Device Types Permitted: Smartphone
• Unlimited: Yes
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Unlimited
• Throttling: No
• Network Management: Not specified
• Video Streaming Resolution: Not specified
• 5G Access: Yes
• eSIM: Yes
• Device Purchase Required: Yes
• Plan Period: 30 days
• International Roaming: Not specified
• Domestic Roaming: Yes. Undisclosed, but likely on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks (until 2027).
• Data Rollover: No
• Overage Charges: No
• Lines permitted per account: Up to 5
• Extra: Project Genesis app
• Price: $25/month

Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile originally was a prepaid subsidiary of Sprint, but they were sold to Dish in July 2020 as part of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. 

As part of the agreement of Dish's purchase of Boost Mobile, they were given the right to use T-Mobile's 5G network for seven years. Dish also entered into a roaming agreement with AT&T in 2021. (Note: In July 2024 there have been some reports that they may only be utilizing AT&T in the future.)

In August 2022, Dish introduced postpaid brand "Boost Infinite" with plans to make it their primary postpaid brand. But in July 2024, Dish repositioned the Boost brands - Boost Mobile will be the name going forward and will include both postpaid and prepaid plans.

As Dish/Boost Mobile is still building out its 5G network, they are utilizing roaming agreements with AT&T and T-Mobile, so Dish plans currently primarily operate on those two networks.

Some customers are provided a "Rainbow SIM" which can access all three networks - Dish, AT&T, and T-Mobile. In order to be eligible to receive a Rainbow SIM, customers must have a device that is optimized for the Dish Network and be in a location where it is available. As of summer 2023, Dish Network is proactively contacting customers who meet this criteria to provide them with a Rainbow SIM, it is not something you can request.

Plan Specifications

• Plan Name: Unlimited Premium
• Carrier Networks Used: Dish Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T
• Carrier Relationship: Direct, Partnerships with T-Mobile and AT&T
• Plan Types Available: Smartphone
• Device Types Permitted: Smartphone
• Unlimited:  No
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Included, up to plan limit
• Throttling: After 50GB, 512 Kbps speed
• Network Management: Not specified
• Video Streaming Resolution: Not specified
• 5G Access: Yes
• eSIM: Yes
• Device Purchase Required: No
• Plan Period: 30 days
• International Roaming:  5GB/month in Canada and Mexico
• Domestic Roaming: Yes. Undisclosed, but likely on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks (until 2027).
• Data Rollover: No
• Overage Charges: No
• Lines permitted per account: Up to 5
• Extra: 
• Price: $60/month