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Q Link Wireless

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Q Link Wireless
Company typeDivision
Industry
  • Wireless Telecommunications
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011)
FounderIssa Asad
Defunct2024 (2024)
FateQ Link Wireless merged into StandUp Wireless
SuccessorStandUp Wireless
Headquarters
Area served
United States
Key people
Issa Asad
Websitestandupwireless.com

Q Link Wireless was an American telecommunications company based in Dania, Florida that provided free wireless services to Lifeline eligible consumers. The company also offered prepaid mobile phone services including wireless voice, messaging, and data services under the Hello Mobile brand.[1]

Q Link Wireless was one of multiple companies owned and operated under Quadrant Holdings, and was founded in 2011 by its CEO, Issa Asad.[2]

The company is now owned by StandUp Wireless as of 2024. Q Link Wireless no longer offers lifeline services as of 2024. Accessing Q Link Wireless now redirects to StandUp Wireless.

Provided service

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Q Link Wireless provided service for low-income-eligible individuals, funded through the Universal Service Fund.[3] The company also offered general phone plans.[4]

Eligibility requirements

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Q Link Wireless offered free or discounted service to eligible Americans who are currently enrolled in a government benefit program or meet certain low-income requirements for their state. Government benefit programs that meet qualifications are standard and set by FCC. but commonly include Food Stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income.[5]

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On October 15, 2024, in MIAMI –Issa Asad, 51, of Southwest Ranches, Florida, and Q Link Wireless LLC, of Dania Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud and commit offenses against the United States in connection with a years-long scheme to steal over $100 million from a celebrated federal program providing discounted phone service to people in need. Asad, Q Link’s CEO, also pleaded guilty to laundering money from a separate scheme to defraud a different federal program meant to aid individuals and businesses hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic.


On June 9, 2021, the company's Florida headquarters was raided by the United States Postal Inspection Service in connection to an undisclosed ongoing investigation.[6] On October 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida announced that Issa Assad and Q Link Wireless LLC had pleaded guilty to “conspiring to defraud and commit offenses (…) in connection with a years-long scheme to steal over $100 million” from the Lifeline federal program.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ GmbH, finanzen net. "South Florida-Based Hello Mobile Beats Nationwide Prepaid Prices | Markets Insider". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  2. ^ "News & Events | Quadrant Holdings LLC & Issa Asad". Quadrant Holdings, LLC. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  3. ^ "Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers". Federal Communications Commission. 27 January 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  4. ^ Cardenas, Alexa (2018-07-03). "Q Link's Phone Plan: Everything You Wanted to Know". Q Link Wireless Blog. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  5. ^ "Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications". 4 March 2016.
  6. ^ Scouten, Ted (9 June 2021). "Dania Beach Wireless Business Raided By Feds". CBS Miami.
  7. ^ "Nationwide telecommunications provider and its CEO plead guilty to massively defrauding Federal Government programs meant to aid the needy". U.S. Department of Justice. 2024-10-15.