Samuel McHugh's questions to EchoStar Corp (SATS) leadership • Q1 2025
Question
Samuel McHugh from BNP Paribas Asset Management asked for the quantitative impact of government support programs on net adds, the rationale for buying back Hughes secured bonds over potentially cheaper unsecured bonds, and for clarification on whether MVNO contracts preclude white-labeling services.
Answer
CEO Hamid Akhavan explained that former government program customers are now integrated into their general prepaid brands, so they do not break out the impact. He reiterated that the bond buyback was an opportunistic decision based on availability and price, not a deeper strategy. COO John Swieringa and Hamid Akhavan both clarified that any wholesale deal utilizing their roaming partners would require new, custom business negotiations and would not be automatic.