Rick Prentiss's questions to EchoStar Corp (SATS) leadership • Q1 2025
Question
Speaking for Rick Prentiss, an analyst from Raymond James asked what is resonating in the market to drive wireless net-add momentum and whether the 150,000 level could be improved upon. He also asked about the timing of the expected ramp-up in CapEx to meet network build-out deadlines.
Answer
CEO Hamid Akhavan attributed the strong wireless performance to attractive value offers, significantly reduced churn, and a growing contribution from digital sales. He noted that Q1 is a seasonally strong period due to tax season. Regarding capital expenditures, he confirmed that CapEx will be lower in 2025 before ramping up, but stated the 2026 deadline will likely be pushed out, allowing for a more success-based build strategy tied to subscriber location and MVNO costs.