Cellular Communications International, Inc. Announces Operating Results for Third Quarter 1998.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1998--CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NASDAQ:CCIL)("CCII") announced today its operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.

CCII's activities to date have focused on participating in strategic joint ventures with other companies to acquire and operate overseas cellular telephone systems. Currently, CCII's primary asset is its 10.267% indirect interest in Omnitel Pronto Italia ("OPI"), a strategic joint venture that is the second GSM cellular telephone licensee in Italy.

William B. Ginsberg, Chairman and President of CCII commented, "OPI has generated year to date EBITDA of 966 billion lire (approximately $578 million at current exchange rates.) OPI has been able to achieve such excellent results due to the continued rapid growth of its customer base and its low costs to acquire and service new subscribers. After less than three years in operation, OPI announced that it had approximately 5,000,000 subscribers at the end of the third quarter compared to 2,460,000 subscribers at the end of 1997. According to industry estimates, OPI's incremental share of the Italian wireless market continues to climb, with its total market share approaching 28% at the end of the third quarter." -0-

Italian Wireless Market         Q3/98   Q2/98   Q1/98   Q4/97   Q3/97
                              ----------------------------------------

OPI Subscribers
 (000 approximate)              5,000   3,900   3,100   2,460   1,730
TIM Subscribers
 (000 estimated)               12,700  11,200  10,100   9,250   7,900
OPI Market Share
 (estimated)                      28%     26%     23%     21%     18%
OPI Incremental Market Share
 (estimated)                      43%     42%     43%     34%     34%


                              Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
CCII Financial Results           September 30         September 30
                              -------------------  -------------------
                                1998       1997      1998       1997
                              -------------------  -------------------
                                 (In thousands of dollars, except
                                          per share data)

Equity in net income
 (loss) of Omnitel            $15,197       $984   $30,435    $(7,628)

Costs and expenses:

   General and
    administrative expenses       615        626     1,787      2,473
   Depreciation and
    amortization expense          173        177       520        532
                              -------------------  -------------------
                                  788        803     2,307      3,005
                              -------------------  -------------------
Operating income (loss)        14,409        181    28,128    (10,633)

Interest and other, net        17,205     (5,640)  (29,304)   (16,337)
                              -------------------  -------------------
Loss before extraordinary
 item                          (2,797)    (5,459)   (1,176)   (26,970)
Loss from early
 extinguishment of debt        (6,858)         -   (44,924)         -
                              -------------------  -------------------
Net loss                      $(9,654)   $(5,459) $(46,100)  $(26,970)
                              ===================  ===================

Basic and diluted net loss
 per common share:

 Loss before extraordinary
  item                          $(.17)     $(.34)   $  .07     $(1.67)
 Extraordinary item              (.41)         -     (2.72)         -
                              -------------------  -------------------
Net loss                        $(.58)     $(.34)   $(2.79)    $(1.67)
                              =================== ===================

On March 19, 1998, the Company declared a 3-for-2 stock split by way of stock dividend, which was paid on April 14, 1998. The net loss per share and weighted average shares give effect to the stock split.

Discussion of CCII Results

Equity in net income of Omnitel for the third quarter increased to $15,197,000 from $984,000. The increase is due to the increase in Omnitel's equity in net income of OPI to $103,749,000 from $6,593,000. OPI's net income increased to $148,276,000 from $9,392,000 as a result of a 147% increase in operating revenues with only a 104% increase in operating expenses (percentage changes are calculated based on the results of operations in Italian lire).

General and administrative expenses decreased to $615,000 from $626,000 as a result of decreases in payroll and certain corporate expenses.

Interest and other, net, increased to expense of $17,205,000 from expense of $5,640,000. The interest expense included in interest and other, net decreased to $5,708,000 from $6,763,000 due to the reduction in interest rates on the outstanding debt. Foreign currency translation losses of $12,671,000 in 1998 included in interest and other, net are due to unfavorable changes in the exchange rate subsequent to the issuance in March 1998 of new debt denominated in ECU's.

The Company recorded an extraordinary loss of $6,858,000 from the redemption of the 13 1/4% Notes.

For further information on Omnitel Pronto Italia, please visit their web site at http://www.omnitel.it.