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Sprint Nextel 'Powers Up' Wireless Coverage, Capacity to Its Networks in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley

Posted on: Monday, 19 March 2007, 09:00 CDT

Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) announced today it added 167 wireless cell sites to its Nationwide Sprint PCS NetworkSM and Nextel National NetworkSM in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley with a total investment of nearly $265 million in 2006.

With this investment, Sprint further increased network coverage and capacity in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley. Sprint also extended and enhanced its mobile broadband services, and in December, began deploying EV-DO Rev. A throughout the area.

"Sprint continues to make significant investments in its wireless networks in New York City, the Lower Hudson Valley and throughout the country," said Maureen Link, area vice president for Sprint's New York Metro Area. "Customer satisfaction and network quality are two of Sprint's top priorities as we further strengthen our powerful networks where our customers live, work, play and travel."

In 2006, Sprint added more than 3,400 cell sites across the country to strengthen performance in both of its wireless networks. This year, the company expects to add more than 4,000 cell sites.

Sprint spent more than $7 billion in capital expenditures in 2006, most of which was invested to enhance its wireless and wireline networks nationwide. Across the country, thousands of markets -- large and small -- received the benefit of this major investment. This year, Sprint will invest nearly $7 billion to further enhance its powerful networks and expand mobile broadband coverage.

The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and EV-DO Rev. A

Sprint offers the largest wireless broadband network of any carrier through the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, which reaches more than 209 million people across the country and covers more than 10,000 cities and 1,000 airports.

In many major cities, Sprint has upgraded the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network with higher-speed EV-DO (Evolution -- Data Optimized) Revision A technology. Sprint's industry-leading EV-DO Rev. A coverage now reaches more than 109 million people and covers 4,600 cities and 378 airports. With EV-DO Rev. A, users should experience significantly faster average data upload speeds of 350 to 500 kbps (compared with 50-70 kbps on current EV-DO networks). Average download speeds should increase to 600 kbps to 1.4 mbps (from 400-700 kbps). By third quarter 2007, the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network is expected to be completely upgraded to the faster EV-DO Rev. A.

Power Network Coverage Tool and Sprint Plan Advisor

To help current and prospective customers view coverage information, Sprint provides the Power Network Coverage Tool, which provides detailed coverage maps down to the street address level. By entering an address or ZIP code, customers can check the availability of wireless coverage, recently added cell sites and the network signal strength on the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network, Nextel National Network or Sprint Mobile Broadband Network. New enhancements to the tool give customers the ability to view mobile broadband network coverage for EV-DO Rev. A as well as future coverage improvements. The tool is available at www.sprint.com/coverage and at self-service touch-screen kiosks at many Sprint and Nextel retail stores. Once coverage is determined, customers can either change or purchase a new service plan using the new Sprint Plan Advisor. This tool, which helps customers make educated decisions about which wireless plan is right for them based on the criteria they provide, is available at www.sprint.com/planadvisor.

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 53.1 million customers at the end of 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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