Lyca Mobile will reportedly switch its customers to the AT&T network within the next year, according to the National Wireless Independent Dealer Association (NWIDA). Currently, Lyca Mobile operates as a T-Mobile MVNO. NWIDA also notes that Lyca Mobile recently secured a one-year extension of its MVNO agreement with T-Mobile. This extension allows Lyca's current customers to continue using T-Mobile's network uninterrupted before potentially transitioning to AT&T. The information about Lyca Mobile's plans was obtained by NWIDA at the annual All Wireless & Prepaid Expo, held in Las Vegas on August 27-28.
According to BestMVNO's MVNO and prepaid wireless subscriber tracker, Lyca Mobile has over 540k subscribers. That is a lot of customers to potentially mover over to a new network in the next 12 months. For many, the switch would simply require getting a new SIM card, but for older customers on old phones, they may need to upgrade them if they'd like to stay with Lyca Mobile.
Last October, following a report from NWIDA, BestMVNO noted that Lyca Mobile was seeking a new carrier partner. The report also stated that Lyca Mobile had received a termination notice of its MVNO agreement with T-Mobile, something legal representatives from Lyca Mobile quickly and vehemently denied. However, legal representation did not confirm or deny the report of Lyca's intentions to seek out a new carrier partner.
Lyca Mobile USA is part of a larger conglomerate, the Lyca Group. Lyca Group operates several MVNOs across multiple continents and countries and manages a diverse range of businesses, including but not limited to financial services, healthcare, media, and entertainment.
The group has seen many changes over the last few years including the appointment of a new CEO in 2023 and the hiring of two new senior executives announced earlier this year. Lyca Mobile discontinued its South Africa operations in January, and its UK business currently faces legal troubles.
In April, an article in Light Reading revealed that Lyca Mobile filed a complaint against T-Mobile with federal regulators. The complaint alleged that T-Mobile engaged in anti-competitive practices and asked federal regulators to block T-Mobile's acquisition of Mint Mobile. Its opposition to the acquisition came too late and T-Mobile closed on it just a few weeks later. In July, BestMVNO noted that Lyca Mobile had withdrawn from CVS stores and began selling a SIM in Target.