Centennial Cellular announces third quarter results.

NEW CANAAN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 1997--Centennial Cellular announced results of the quarter and nine months ending 2/28/97 today.

Total revenues for the quarter were $39,174,000, up $11,236,000, or 40.2 percent over the $27,938,000 in the three month period ended Feb. 29, 1996.

Operating income before depreciation and amortization for the three months ended Feb. 28, 1997 was $13,129,000, an increase of $1,667,000, or 14.5 percent over the $11,462,000 recorded for the 3 month period ended Feb. 29, 1996.

The net loss for the quarter was $9,486,000 or $(.50) per share compared to a loss of $8,807,000 or $(.45) per share for the quarter ended Feb. 29, 1996.

Total revenues for the nine month period ended Feb. 28, 1997 were $106,898,000 an increase of $24,325,000 or 29.5 percent over the $82,573,000 for the nine month period ended Feb. 29, 1996.

Operating income before depreciation and amortization for the nine month period Feb. 28, 1997 was $42,809,000, an increase of $5,332,000 or 14.2 percent over the $37,477,000 for the nine month period ended Feb. 29, 1996.

The net loss for the nine month period ended Feb. 28, 1997 was $21,714,000 or $(1.25) per share as compared to a nine month loss of $19,574,000 or $(1.11) per share at Feb. 29, 1996.

Wireless subscribers at Feb. 28, 1997 were approximately 183,400,000 an increase of 44 percent from the 127,500 subscribers at Feb. 29, 1996. The increase in subscribers is the result of 89,700 new activations and 7,500 subscribers from acquisitions. The increases were offset by subscriber cancellations of 41,300. -0-

Beginning subscribers, February 29, 1996       127,500
Activations                                     89,700
Cancellations                                  (41,300)
Acquired                                         7,500
Ending subscribers, February 28, 1997          183,400

    The company was recently the winning bidder for one of two MTA
licenses to provide Personal Communications Services "PCS" service
in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
representing approximately 3.6 million pops.  The company's Puerto
Rican telecommunications network is in the start-up and construction
stage.  On December 12, 1996 the company began providing PCS
telephone services in Puerto Rico  There is on-going construction to
complete the buildout of the system.  The Puerto Rico PCS telephone
services operations accounted for $1,493 in revenue and had 6,900
subscribers as of February 28, 1997.
    Centennial Cellular Corp. acquires, operates and invests in
cellular telephone systems throughout the United States.  The
company's current wireless telephone interests represent
approximately 10.2 million net pops.  Approximately 5.5 million of
this population is represented by interests in systems the company
owns (either 100% or a controlling interest) and manages, serving
primarily three geographic areas.  Approximately 1.1 million of the
population represents minority investments in limited partnerships
owning cellular telephone systems which primarily serve the
Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay area in California.
    The company also owns and operates paging, specialized mobile
radio, and conventional mobile telephone businesses in two markets
in which it has cellular telephone systems.
-0-
                       Centennial Cellular Corp.


                     Three Months          Three Months     % Change
                    Ended 2/28/97         Ended 2/29/96

Revenue from
 cellular telephone
 services             $ 38,962,000         $ 27,112,000      43.7%
Interest income            212,000              826,000     (74.3)%
Total revenues          39,174,000           27,938,000      40.2%
Operating income before
 deprec. & amortization 13,129,000           11,462,000      14.5%
Operating loss          (8,046,000)          (6,571,000)    (22.4)%
Interest expense         8,839,000            8,242,000       7.2%
Net Loss                (9,486,000)          (8,807,000)     (7.7)%
Net Loss per share(a)         (.50)                (.45)
Average number
 of shares              26,936,000          26,839,000
-0-

                     Nine Months          Nine Months     % Change
                    Ended 2/28/97        Ended  2/29/96

Revenue from
 cellular telephone
 services             $105,466,000         $ 79,246,000      33.0%
Interest income          1,432,000            3,327,000     (57.0)%
Total revenues         106,898,000           82,573,000      29.5%
Operating income before
 deprec. & amortization 42,809,000           37,477,000      14.2%
Operating loss         (16,157,000)         (16,097,000)     (0.4)%
Interest expense        23,598,000           24,793,000      (4.8)%
Net Loss               (21,714,000)         (19,574,000)    (10.9)%
Net Loss per share(a)        (1.25)               (1.11)
Average number
 of shares
 outstanding            26,935,000           26,794,000

(a) After preferred stock dividends

CONTACT: Centennial Cellular Corp.

Scott Schneider, 203/972-2000