Now that I’ve looked, my Boost SIM still reports Republic from those settings.The only apparent change is reporting Boost on the carrier line of the lock screen. Strange.
At Settings → Network & internet → SIMs; I’m able to select an available SIM then name it anything I want by tapping the pencil icon to the upper right. I’m using a Pixel 6a but do OnePlus phones have something similar?
On Android, it’s also possible to customize the carrier flag or banner using Carrier Vanity Name and Shizuku. So; if one wanted to do so, they could “bring back” Republic. 
My Mobi (Verizon network) pSIM masquerading as Republic. It even has WiFi calling.
Can’t say I’ve ever seen a SIM reboot. Anyway; if you look at the ICCID of your Boost SIM, does it still start with 89014 or is it now 89105?
1 Like
It turns out that I can edit things that way. I had never thought to check if it was an option. I don’t need to do that much. Thanks for the tip!
1 Like
In al probability, you will never actually be aware of a SIM reboot if you do not PIN-lock your SIMs, which I always do, when possible. When a locked SIM reboots it has to ask for the PIN. Otherwise it will just silently reboot and you will not be aware of anything unless something visible changes.
As for the ICCID number, Android 13 apparently changed permission models, so if they can change the number, I can’t find a way to get at it. The number may be printed on the SIM, but that can’t be changed. 
1 Like
I can check ICCID in Settings > About Phone > SIM status (sim slot x). This is on Android 14. I seriously doubt that you’re on anything but AT&T (89014), however.
1 Like
That option does not appear on my phone. One app to read that info said my phone could not display the information, and another said that as of Android 13, the ability was removed. Not really important, I thought I’d try and see.
Does dialing *#06# from the phone app not reveal the ICCID?
As soon as I hit the second # the number field clears and pressing call does nothing.
Hmm, *#06# is about as universal as dialer codes get. It even works on iPhones.
Agreed that a change in ICCID for former Republic members is unlikely at this time, however, there are reports online of DISH/Boost reprogramming SIMs over the air for use on the standalone 5G greenfield network.
Given few, if any, former RW by DISH members would own a device compatible with the new network, it wouldn’t seem logical to do so with former RW by DISH SIMs but logic isn’t something for which DISH/Boost have become known. I guess just changing how the SIMs were reporting themselves to the OS from Republic to Boost is all that occurred here.
I feel really bad for anyone who would be unknowingly switched to the Boost 5G network. I’ve been using it since January, and can report that it’s the most unstable cellular network I’ve experienced in the last 20 years. It’s objectively worse that the old Sprint 3G network, which while very slow in times of congestion didn’t just randomly drop completely.
1 Like
Sprint’s 3G network where I’m at was an atrocity and not just at times of congestion. Or; it was always congested. 
I can’t imagine worse! I stayed away from RW until Sprint lit up its 4G network, which was solid.
My phone does not have 5G. Assuming that they can figure this out from the IMEI, they may not have bothered. If they did, oh well, essentially no impact on me in any case.
And now, for something not entirely different…
I’ve been switching back and forth between Mint and Boost for data. I figured it was worth testing. The results were…unexpected.
Mint pretty much always has full-bore data speeds for me, if I have any kind of signal at all. Boost, on the other claw, varies from mediocre to “data, what’s that?” From around 4:30 to 7 or so, Boost makes a sedated glacier seem like the Flash on caffeinated steroids, when there is data at all. There are times when I can get a decent signal on the signal meter, but the ! appears to say that the connection does not support data.
Mint was still faster the one time I blew past the (at the time) 4GB high-speed cap and was using 2G speeds for a day or two. Slow, but non-media apps worked. When Boost goes into low gear no apps will work even when data is supposedly available. Eventually they just time out.
Not a great look for the service.
This was not a detailed test, just how I perceive things when using the two carriers.
I’m on Project Genesis. Beginning ~3 months ago it seems that even when I roam off the native Boost 5G network to AT&T, data is routed through AWS. This appears to result in sub-optimal, wildly variable data speeds.
If my phone says 89012, is that T-Mobile?
I’ve been happy with Boost so far. Though yesterday when I was out in the woods with 3 bars of LTE, I was having data connectivity issues.
Yes!
For others reading, Boost uses one of three SIMs. One can determine which Boost SIM they have by looking at the first 5 digits of the SIMs ICCID on the phone. The easiest way to access the ICCID is by dialing *#06#.
- 89105 = DISH/Boost native network (also known as a “rainbow” SIM) with domestic roaming to AT&T and/or T-Mobile
- 89014 = AT&T network (no domestic roaming)
- 89012 = T-Mobile network (no domestic roaming)
Recently, DISH/Boost has made the decision to begin moving away from offering T-Mobile network SIMs. New activations will be using either DISH/Boost native SIMs or AT&T network SIMs.
It’s unclear whether and when Boost subscribers with T-Mobile network SIMs would be impacted but Boost has been sending out “upgraded” SIMs to some subscribers.
Just as Boost is deemphasizing T-Mobile network SIMs for new activations, it’s likely Boost will deemphasize T-Mobile in favor of AT&T for domestic roaming when the DISH/Boost native network is unavailable. So much for the “power of three” networks, I guess.
Few, if any, former RW members would have DISH/Boost native SIMs though that may change should one receive an “upgraded” SIM from Boost.
As with all things DISH/Boost, this easily becomes confusing. My suggestion to fellow former RW members is (presuming you’re satisfied with Boost service) sit tight until and unless something changes.
If you’re not satisfied with Boost service now or in the future, there are plenty of alternatives in the market.
1 Like
Interesting. This would explain the daily halting of data flow at times when more people are likely to use data. I should probably call support with complaints about this issue. It’s kind of difficult to be motivated for that sort of thing when you’ve been arguing with support for years with no apparent result. (I will know if there are results on my persistent complaint in about two weeks.)
1 Like
That’s interesting, @rolandh - Consumer Cellular is also moving away from T-Mobile in favor of AT&T. I wonder if contract terms make the switch favorable for the cell service provider?
1 Like
I think it’s reasonable to presume financial incentives when company A decides to do more business with company B and less with company C.
Boost and T-Mobile have had a fractious business relationship since T-Mobile was required to spin Boost out to DISH as part of the government’s approval of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. The current deemphasis of T-Mobile’s network in favor of AT&T’s may be just another episode or something more permanent. It’s hard to say anything is permanent with DISH (other than chaos 
).
CC being a more um mature operation than Boost (pun not intended), I suspect got a good offer from AT&T to move away from T-Mobile. I also suspect that, like Boost, CC will still have large numbers of customers using T-Mobile’s network for the foreseeable future even as new activations are on AT&T’s network.
It seems as if AT&T and Verizon are both becoming more aggressive in the wholesale space. On the other hand, there are still more MVNOs using T-Mobile’s network than those of AT&T and/or Verizon.
1 Like