Sprint Nextel 'Powers Up' Lousiana Coverage, Capacity to Its Wireless Networks with a $22 Million Investment

Significant network enhancements made throughout Louisiana as part of a $7 billion wireless and wireline investment nationwide

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) today announced enhancements to both the Sprint PCS Nationwide Network and the Nextel National Network(SM) in Louisiana with an investment of $22 million through the third quarter of 2006 with more to come before year end. 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.

"Providing an excellent customer experience is Sprint's number one priority in Louisiana and wherever we offer our wide range of wireless phones, plans and features," said Jeffrey Bennett, area vice president for Sprint Nextel. "We strive to make our wireless service the best where our customers live, work and travel."

Sprint plans to invest $7 billion in its wireless and wireline networks nationwide in 2006. The $22 million investment in Louisiana includes more than $16 million in New Orleans.

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 Vision(SM) Network (EV-DO), which reaches nearly 181 million people nationwide, covering more than 8,000 communities and 725 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 retail stores, is simple to use and helps set network coverage expectations for customers before signing up for wireless service.