Sprint Deploys First Multi-Mode Base Station

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced an important milestone in the national roll-out of Network Vision: a complete deployment of the first multi-mode base station in Branchburg, N.J. The deployment features a series of firsts, including

“Months of planning and execution with our partners are resulting in performance improvements that more than meet our expectations. We’re excited to begin sharing these improvements with our customers.”

radiating multiple spectrum bands (1.9GHz and 800MHz) from a single base station,
powering both 1x and EVDO.

The new base station is fully integrated with the existing network and initial tests show performance improvements are in line with expectations.

Announced in Dec. 2010, Network Vision is a blueprint to consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network, resulting in significant performance improvements for our customers. Through spectrum efficiencies associated with Network Vision, Sprint intends to repurpose some of its 800MHz spectrum for Sprint 3G service, thereby enhancing coverage, particularly the in-building experience for customers. Augmenting its 1.9GHz footprint with 800MHz, Sprint expects its CDMA coverage density will increase throughout the country. More density generally equates to fewer dropped calls and a more seamless network experience for customers.

“Customers in Branchburg who are served off of this first cell site may already begin to notice improvements,” said Bob Azzi, SVP Network for Sprint. “Months of planning and execution with our partners are resulting in performance improvements that more than meet our expectations. We’re excited to begin sharing these improvements with our customers.”

Customer Benefits

Sprint customers will soon see better signal strength for improved wireless access in more places. The Network Vision program is expected to result in faster, more consistent data speeds, allowing greater access to download the latest free song of the day from the Google Music Store on an HTC EVO™ 3D. Customers can expect to experience fewer dropped calls so they can freely manage their holiday plans and shopping virtually anywhere they are. Network Vision ultimately means confidence for wireless users that Sprint is handling increased data demands while ensuring an exceptional wireless customer experience.

Financial Benefit

Network Vision also provides significant economic benefit to Sprint. Network Vision is expected to cost an incremental $4 billion to $5 billion and deliver $10 billion to $11 billion in net economic value to the company between 2011 and 2017, with a projected NPV of approximately $6 billion. The primary components of value come from reduced roaming, cell-site reduction, the elimination of dual networks, backhaul efficiencies, reduced churn, more efficient use of capital and energy cost savings.

Sprint previously announced that Network Vision is a three year program with market deployments beginning in 2012 and ending in early 2014. Sprint expects to make additional announcements about market deployments early next year.

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 served more than 53 million customers at the end of 3Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index showed Sprint is the #1 most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the last three years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

* This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding network performance, coverage and capabilities, business and network efficiencies, migration of services new technologies, timing of deployment, and products and services, as well as other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management’s judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking statements, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, development and deployment of new technologies; efficiencies and cost savings of multimode technologies; customer and network usage; customer growth and retention; service, coverage and quality; availability of devices; the timing of various events and the economic environment. Sprint Nextel believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Sprint Nextel is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. Sprint Nextel provides a detailed discussion of risk factors in periodic SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010, in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011.