Dish Merges With EchoStar, Buying Time for Ergen’s Mobile Empire

Dish Network Corp. and EchoStar Corp. have completed their merger, reuniting Charlie Ergen’s satellite empire once again.

The deal, which closed on Dec. 31, is key to Ergen’s plan to transition Dish away from the dwindling pay-TV business and toward wireless services, challenging the likes of Verizon Communications Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and AT&T Inc. Dish, which had accrued significant debt, will now have access to more cash and time to expand its 5G network buildout and mobile and broadband offerings, including fixed home wireless and Boost Infinite, a low-cost mobile service.

Ergen, 70, was chairman and ...