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SurgePays, the parent company behind MVNO LinkUp Mobile and Lifeline provider Torch Wireless, has reported strong subscriber growth following its Q2 2025 earnings release. LinkUp Mobile has now amassed 30,000 subscribers, with activations for the brand more than doubling between April and July. During a conference call, company CEO Brian Cox stated they had 10,000 activations in April 2025, and 20,500 in July 2025. BestMVNO first detailed SurgePays' plans to launch the LinkUp Mobile brand in April 2024.
LinkUp Mobile's Road to 30,000 Subscribers
Formally launched nationwide on AT&T’s network with full integration on April 1, 2025, LinkUp Mobile quickly established market share thanks to its dealer and retail partnerships and the recent launch of a new "Phone-in-a-Box" (PIB) program. PIB is designed for convenience stores and other non-traditional wireless retailers, offering a ready-to-sell smartphone kit that includes a device, a preloaded SIM card, and the first month of service.
SurgePays executives describe the program as making wireless as easy to sell as “a six-pack of soda and a bag of chips.” Retailers benefit from repeat monthly top-up sales, which SurgePays highlights as a way to drive additional foot traffic and cross-selling opportunities in their stores. The initial run of 2,600 "Phone-in-a-Box" units, announced in late June, sold out in under 30 days. Additional production is underway.
The standard plan that comes with the kit costs $30 per month and includes 12GB of data and unlimited talk and text in the US, Canada, and Mexico, with other service levels available after the first month.
The company will showcase its PIB kits at the 2025 All Wireless and Prepaid Expo happening in Las Vegas from August 19-20, where they are a Gold sponsor. Also on display will be its family of point-of-sale apps for wireless retailers, chain stores, and carriers. The software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform enables in-store marketing campaigns, loyalty program enrollment, and NFC or QR code engagement for streamlined customer interactions. SurgePays says it has over 9,000 retail locations in its network, with national distributor partnerships expanding its reach.
SurgePays has expectations of continued growth and says LinkUp Mobile has thus far shipped over 250,000 SIMs to customers and retail partners.
Torch Wireless Surges Past 57,000 Monthly Activations
Torch Wireless, SurgePays’ Lifeline-subsidized brand, is growing at a pace it says it has not seen since the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in 2024. The company reported:
- 20,000 activations in June 2025
- 57,000 activations in July 2025
- An expected 80,000–90,000 ongoing monthly activations by September 2025
The acceleration comes after SurgePays retooled its ACP infrastructure for Lifeline, fully integrated with AT&T’s nationwide network, and expanded its distribution footprint. SurgePays noted it has added experienced leadership and deployed new technology to support scalable subscriber growth. To put its Lifeline activations in perspective, Brian Cox stated in the conference call that Torch Wireless has matched its peak ACP enrollment rate of 3,000 subscribers per day in a shorter amount of time and expects continued growth as it expands into more sales channels.
MVNE Growth: HERO Platform Expands
SurgePays isn't just an MVNO that offers wireless service to consumers; the company also operates as an MVNE. A Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) provides back-end infrastructure that enables other MVNOs to launch without building their own systems from scratch. SurgePays calls its platform the HERO MVNE platform, which now supports three fully integrated MVNO customers. SurgePays sees this part of the business as a high-margin growth engine, allowing it to collect recurring revenue from wholesale partners.
With LinkUp Mobile's retail strategy, Torch Wireless's explosive Lifeline growth, and the expansion of its wholesale MVNE platform, SurgePays has established multiple, distinct avenues for subscriber acquisition. This multi-pronged approach has demonstrated positive early returns and positions the company for continued expansion across both its direct-to-consumer and business-to-business wireless operations.