Trump Mobile’s origins trace back to a boxing star and an MVNO pitch

Trump Mobile didn’t originate with the president; executives say Liberty Mobile pitched the idea, echoing Liberty’s earlier Canelo Álvarez project. Canelo Mobile, launched in 2020, was an MVNO using budget hardware (Hotpepper) and boxer-branded apps, tied to Liberty Mobile. Trump Mobile later pushed for its own hardware in Miami to differentiate, but remains an MVNO-focused business with premium pricing and questions about value. The piece traces how branding, partnerships, and hardware ambitions shaped both ventures.