Lyca Mobile’s Transition: What Dealers and Customers Need to Know About the Upcoming Network Change

Lycamobile

In early September 2025, Lyca Mobile USA sent a letter to its master dealers announcing a major shift in its U.S. operations. The company will discontinue new activations of current Lyca Mobile SIM cards on September 20, 2025 and will transition to a new mobile network operator (MNO). The letter doesn’t identify the new carrier, but it outlines steps dealers must take to prepare for the change. Below is an overview of the situation, why the change is happening and what it means for dealers and subscribers.

Why is Lyca Mobile changing networks?

Lyca Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO); it does not own its own wireless network. Instead, it buys wholesale network access from a major carrier and sells prepaid service under the Lyca Mobile brand. Since entering the U.S. in 2012, Lyca Mobile has used T‑Mobile’s network. However, the partnership has become strained.

• Legal dispute and settlement: In 2022 T‑Mobile filed a lawsuit accusing Lyca Mobile of underpaying for network access. Lyca Mobile eventually took the dispute to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice. In September 2024 both parties settled their legal battlelightreading.com.

• Reported move to AT&T: Industry sources reported that as part of the settlement Lyca Mobile extended its contract with T‑Mobile for just one more year and would work to transition customers from T‑Mobile’s network to AT&T’s networkphonearena.com. Smart Device Scoop, citing the National Wireless Independent Dealer Association (NWIDA), wrote that Lyca extended its deal with T‑Mobile by a year and would use that time to switch to AT&Tsmartdevicescoop.com. Light Reading also noted that, following the settlement, Lyca Mobile was reported to be shifting its U.S. operations from T‑Mobile to AT&T, although neither company publicly confirmed the movelightreading.com.

These reports suggest that AT&T is the likely successor, but Lyca Mobile has not officially announced the new partner. The letter to dealers simply says the company will “soon be transitioning to a new mobile network operator” and promises more details in the coming weeks.

Key points from Lyca Mobile’s letter to dealers

• September 20, 2025 cutoff: New activations of current Lyca Mobile SIM cards will end on Sept 20, 2025. After that date, dealers can’t activate existing physical SIMs or eSIM QR codes. This cutoff applies only to activation; subscribers who were activated before Sept 20 can still purchase recharges/top‑ups without interruption.

• Inventory reporting and replacement: Dealers must provide a complete list of all Lyca SIM cards currently in inventory. Lyca will then send return instructions and will replace these SIMs with new ones compatible with the new network. Both physical SIMs and eSIMs will be available.

• Continuity for existing subscribers: Service plan sales and recharges for SIMs activated prior to Sept 20 will continue normally. Lyca will subsequently provide instructions for replacing existing subscribers’ SIMs with SIMs that work on the new network.

• Communication to come: Lyca promises to share more information in the coming weeks. Dealers with questions should contact their Lyca sales representatives.

What dealers should do now

1. Audit your inventory: Count every Lyca SIM card (physical SIMs and eSIM QR codes) currently in stock. Having an accurate list will speed up the return-and-replacement process once Lyca sends instructions.

2. Plan to stop new activations on Sept 20: Inform staff that activations of current SIMs must cease on that date. Continue selling recharges and service plans to existing customers as usual until you receive instructions for transitioning them to new SIMs.

3. Prepare for network compatibility changes: Although the new carrier hasn’t been announced, multiple reports suggest that Lyca will move to AT&T’s networklightreading.com. AT&T uses the GSM standard, but its LTE/5G bands differ from T‑Mobile’s. Customers using devices that lack the necessary AT&T bands may need to upgrade their phones. Communicate this possibility to customers once the new network is confirmed.

What customers should know

• No immediate service interruption: Customers can continue using their Lyca Mobile service as usual through September 20 and beyond. Recharges/top‑ups on existing SIMs will not be interrupted.

• New SIMs and possibly new phones: When Lyca Mobile transitions to the new network, customers will be issued new SIM cards. If the new network is AT&T, some devices that work on T‑Mobile’s network may not fully support AT&T’s LTE/5G bandssmartdevicescoop.com. Customers should be prepared to switch to a compatible phone or check whether their current phone works on AT&T.

• Watch for official announcements: Lyca has not publicly confirmed the new network. Until it does, avoid assumptions and watch for official communications via SMS, email or from authorized dealers.

Broader context and implications

Lyca Mobile’s network change underscores the precarious nature of MVNO agreements. As MVNOs rely on wholesale network access from larger carriers, changes in these agreements can quickly alter the service experience for millions of subscribers. In the past few years, the U.S. prepaid market has seen significant shifts—Verizon acquired Tracfone in 2021, T‑Mobile bought Mint Mobile in 2023 and private‑equity firms have invested billions into MVNOslightreading.com. Lyca’s reported move to AT&T may be driven by a combination of cost considerations, strategic alliances and the aftermath of its legal dispute with T‑Mobile.

Conclusion

Lyca Mobile USA’s letter confirms that September 20, 2025 is the cutoff date for activating SIM cards tied to T‑Mobile’s network. Dealers must prepare to replace their current SIM stock and should communicate these changes to their staff and customers. While the new network partner remains unconfirmed, multiple industry reports indicate that Lyca aims to migrate its customers to AT&Tlightreading.comsmartdevicescoop.com. Both dealers and customers should remain alert for further communications from Lyca in the coming weeks so they can ensure a smooth transition.