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Sprint Nextel 'Powers Up' Virginia Coverage, Capacity to Its Wireless Networks With a More Than $105 Million Investment

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 November 2006, 09:00 CST

Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) today announced enhancements to both the Sprint PCS Nationwide Network and the Nextel National NetworkSM in Virginia with an investment of more than $105 million through the third quarter of 2006 with more to come before yearend. These extensive upgrades are the result of additional wireless cell sites and equipment being added to the networks, delivering additional coverage and network capacity to serve customers.

"The Sprint network team is constantly looking for ways to improve the customer experience in Virginia and throughout the country," said Brian McIntee, area vice president for the Mid-Atlantic area, Sprint. "We strive to make our wireless service the best where our customers live, work and travel."

The following is a detailed list of the areas improved by these enhancements to the Sprint PCS Network:

Aldie

Lake Anna

Chesapeake

Manassas

City of Washington, Rappahannock

Newport News

Culpepper

Norfolk

Dale City

Petersburg

Fairfax

Portsmouth

Farmville

Richmond

Fredericksburg

Suffolk

Ft. Belvoir

Vienna

Reston

Virginia Beach

The following is a detailed list of the areas improved by these enhancements to the Nextel Network:

Alexandria

Lorton

Boyce

Manassas

Catalpa

Markham

Commonwealth Center/Brandermill

Norfolk

Craddock

Port Royal

Culpepper

Reston

Elizabeth City

Richmond

Fairfax

White Oak

Fredericksburg

Williamsburg

"Sprint is committed to delivering the highest quality network coverage, and this is just one example of our never ending efforts to optimize our network performance to provide the best service," McIntee said. "Customers in Virginia can expect to see expanded network quality as we continue our efforts to enhance and improve their wireless experience with Sprint."

Sprint plans to invest $7 billion in its wireless and wireline networks nationwide in 2006.

Nextel National Network

The Nextel National Network, one of the largest all-digital wireless networks in the United States, is based on the integrated digital enhanced network (iDEN) always-on technology, which provides the world's fastest and most efficient walkie-talkie service. More people use the Nextel National Network for walkie-talkie calls than any other such service in the world. In 2005, the Nextel Network carried more than 100 billion direct connect calls.

Sprint Expands the Sprint Power Vision Network

Sprint offers the most wireless broadband coverage of any carrier through its Power VisionSM Network (EV-DO), which reaches more than 174 million people nationwide as of Nov. 17, covering over 219 communities with at least a 100,000 population as well as 673 airports. The Power Vision network allows users to access audio, video and data applications with handheld and connection card devices.

Sprint is the only carrier to begin rolling out an EV-DO Revision A network and expects to cover 21 markets where more than 40 million people live and work by the end of 2006 and upgrade its entire Power Vision Network to the faster EV-DO Revision A technology by Q3 2007. The faster data rates provided by EV-DO Revision A can enable richer applications and services, such as high-speed video telephony, music on demand, video messaging, large file uploads and high performance push-to-talk capability.

Power Network Coverage Tool Provides Unique View

In October, Sprint launched its Power Network Coverage Tool to help customers view detailed coverage maps down to the street address level. By entering an address or zip code, customers can see the availability of wireless coverage and the network signal strength on the Nextel National Network, Nationwide Sprint PCS NetworkSM or Sprint Power Vision Network. Customers can also view the location of recently added cell sites in many areas. The tool, available at www.sprint.com/coverage and at self-service touch-screen kiosks at hundreds of Sprint Nextel retail stores, is simple to use and helps set network coverage expectations for customers before signing up for wireless service.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving more than 51 million customers at the end of third quarter 2006; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

Source: Business Wire

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