Charlie Ergen-backed Dish Network has sold off its fibre division. Mereo Networks has acquired Dish Fibre Internet LLC for an undisclosed sum. Dish Fiber is a bulk fibre internet and video content provider serving over 25,000 residential units across 33 US states.

The deal will strengthen Mereo’s target growth markets in the Sun Belt, Mountain West and Great Lakes regions. Mereo said the transaction combines Dish’s “impressive scale with our industry-leading customer service model.” Mereo Networks 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.

Dish made no comment, but EchoStar, in its last earnings call, said its cellular network Boost Mobile reached its promised 50 percent 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.”

Recon Analytics analyst Daryl Schoolar said Dish has several large loans to repay, noting: “Cash from selling the fibere business should help with that”.

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