Mobi MVNO Faces Collapse Amid CEO's Sudden Departure and Customer Disruptions
The mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Mobi, which operates on Verizon and T-Mobile's networks, appears to be experiencing severe internal turmoil. Reports have surfaced that its CEO, Justen Burdette, may have fled the United States for Brazil. This development has sparked shareholder lawsuits and left many customers struggling with service disconnections and an unresponsive support system.
Service Interruptions and Customer Concerns
Numerous users have taken to online forums such as Reddit to voice their frustrations, reporting sudden disconnection of their lines and inability to reach Mobi's customer representatives. Long-time subscribers remain connected via Verizon’s network, while newer users, who joined the beta program running on T-Mobile’s network since February 2025, have faced abrupt service termination upon renewal deadlines without options to extend their plans.
Customers reported paying an upfront annual fee for service in this beta program and were shocked when connections were cut off unannounced. Despite multiple attempts to get clarification from T-Mobile and Mobi, official communication remains scarce.
Legal Action Against the CEO
According to a lawsuit filed by JB Mobile Holding and Pierre-Emmanuel Durand, represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Justen Burdette allegedly abandoned a multimillion-dollar acquisition agreement and fled to Brazil while owing approximately $1 million in unpaid wages. The complaint accuses Burdette of removing key executives without authority, refusing to accept his ousting from company management, and shutting employees out of critical systems, which has further crippled the company’s operations.
Customer Guidance on Porting Out
In light of the instability, many Mobi subscribers are considering porting their numbers to alternative providers. Customers have shared various methods to successfully port out their phone numbers, including using account numbers combined with PINs or the last six digits of SIM cards. The company has publicly stated it will not "hold anyone’s phone number hostage," encouraging users to migrate their numbers if desired.
- Account number and account PIN
- Account number and last six digits of SIM (ICCID) as PIN
- 10-digit phone number (no dashes) as account number and last six digits of SIM as PIN
Community Poll: What Will You Do?
82.64% want to port out immediately.
What’s Next for Mobi?
With the CEO gone and legal battles underway, Mobi's future is uncertain. Customers remain cautious, and traditional carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile continue to observe the fallout as they provide network infrastructure for the struggling MVNO.
