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Sprint Continues to Invest in High-Speed Wireless Future
Tuesday December 7, 9:00 am ET
Lucent, Motorola and Nortel share multiyear contract commitments

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041207/nytu081_1.html

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sprint (NYSE: FON - News) has finalized multiyear wireless services infrastructure build-out agreements totaling approximately $3 billion with Lucent, Motorola and Nortel. The contracts involve new switching and radio hardware and software for cell sites, capacity augmentation, and Sprint's EV-DO (Evolution, Data Optimized) wireless high-speed data network deployment. The contracts also include future 1xEV technology upgrade options. This investment helps insure Sprint continues its wireless industry leadership by expanding and strengthening its network coverage, deploying new services and supporting continued customer growth.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )
Sprint, the leader in wireless data services, announced last June its plan to provide next-generation EV-DO wireless service at peak data rates of up to 2.4 Mbps to major U.S. metro areas during 2005. Sprint expects to spend about $1 billion of the $3 billion investment total to upgrade its network to EV-DO technology which will accelerate mobile device data speeds up to 10 times faster than on today's network.

Markets involved in the service launch will be announced in the near future. Users will experience superior application and service performance on EV-DO-capable handsets and laptops equipped with EV-DO-enabled PCS connection cards. Sprint's migration to EV-DO will be relatively easy because of its nationwide wireless network design featuring a single, leading technology. Site upgrades merely involve incorporating a new channel card and additional RF carrier, without the need to replace the existing infrastructure. Sprint's wireless infrastructure build-outs in the United States are divided among three vendors:

-- Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - News) received a three-year contract to
enhance Sprint's nationwide 3G network, including CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
technology. It will upgrade Sprint's existing Lucent-supplied base
stations with an additional RF carrier where needed and provide key
elements of its IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) solution.

-- Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News) received an extension to the end of 2006 of
its existing CDMA infrastructure supply agreement, involving CDMA2000
1x base station equipment and related services as well as Motorola's
mobile broadband CDMA2000 1xEV-DO solution in markets served by CDMA 1X
infrastructure.

-- Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT - News; TSX: NT - News) received a three-year contract to
deploy enhanced CDMA wireless infrastructure equipment including radio
base stations, controllers and switching platforms, the new Packet Data
Service Node 16000, and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO equipment where required.


"These agreements enhance Sprint's ongoing focus of creating differentiated products and services while deploying state-of-the-art infrastructure that gives all wireless customers the power to enjoy new mobility benefits and enhance their overall experience," explained Kathy Walker, executive vice president -- Network Services, Sprint. "By continuing to invest in our existing network and deliver wireless services with superior efficiency, we can make a dramatic difference in shaping the customer experience of tomorrow. Consumers will enjoy improved wireless capabilities such as high-speed video and audio streaming for entertainment content while business consumers will benefit from mobility data applications that improve productivity and collaboration in such areas as healthcare, insurance, security and professional services."

About Sprint

Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With more than $26 billion in annual revenues in 2003, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local communications services in 39 states and the District of Columbia and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com.




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Source: Sprint