Crown Castle International Reports Record First Quarter Results.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2000

Crown Castle International Corp. (Nasdaq:TWRS) today reported record results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2000.

Revenues for the first quarter of 2000 increased 125 percent to $124.2 million compared to $55.1 million during the first quarter of 1999. Tower cash flow for the first quarter increased 97 percent to $48.5 million, up from $24.7 million in last year's first quarter. First quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, grew 150 percent to $51.1 million compared to $20.4 million in last year's first quarter. The Company added 1,118 tenants from acquisitions and 1,027 new tenants in the first quarter of 2000 compared to 3,266 tenants from acquisitions and 224 new tenants added in the first quarter of 1999.

"During the first quarter, we delivered strong operating results that reflect the continued strength of the demand for our towers, the commitment and dedication of our employees, and our unrivaled ability to effectively integrate significant numbers of towers into our operations," stated Ted B. Miller, Jr., chairman and CEO of Crown Castle International. "We also announced the acquisition of Cable & Wireless Optus' entire network of towers in Australia, becoming the first and only independent tower company to have operations on three continents. Additionally, we completed a new $1.2 billion credit facility and announced several management changes and promotions that strategically position us to accelerate our leadership in the wireless infrastructure industry.

"We are very pleased with our strategic position within the industry and are focused on the task of maximizing the value of our assets to customers. We continue to seek new opportunities for capitalizing on the benefits of outsourcing shared infrastructure," concluded Miller.

Crown Castle International Corp. engineers, deploys, owns and operates technologically advanced shared wireless infrastructure, including extensive networks of towers and rooftops as well as analog and digital audio and television broadcast transmission systems. The Company offers near-universal broadcast coverage in the United Kingdom and significant wireless communications coverage to 68 of the top 100 United States markets, more than 95 percent of the UK population and more than 92 percent of the Australian population. Pro forma for all closed and previously announced transactions, Crown Castle International owns, operates and manages over 11,000 wireless communication towers internationally. For more information on Crown Castle International, visit: www.crowncastle.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on management's belief as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. More information about potential factors, which could affect the Company's financial results, is included in the Risk Factors sections of the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Tables to Follow

                   Crown Castle International Corp.
            Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
                       And Other Financial Data
                (in thousands, except per share data)

                                                Three Months Ended
                                                    March 31,
                                          ----------------------------
                                               2000           1999
                                          ------------- --------------
Net revenues:
 Site rental and
  broadcast transmission                       $93,741        $45,326
 Network services and
  other                                         30,503          9,783
                                             ---------      ---------
  Total net revenues                           124,244         55,109
                                             ---------      ---------
Costs of operations:
 Site rental and
  broadcast transmission                        40,287         18,527
 Network services and
  other                                         15,901          6,982
                                             ---------      ---------
  Total costs of operations                     56,188         25,509
                                             ---------      ---------
General and administrative                      14,853          8,304
Corporate development                            2,071            874
Restructuring charges                             --            1,814
Non-cash compensation charges                      461            667
Depreciation and amortization                   45,122         19,656
                                             ---------      ---------
Operating income (loss)                          5,549         (1,715)
Interest and other
 income (expense)                                5,704            340
Interest expense and
 amortization of deferred
 financing costs                               (41,761)       (11,286)
                                             ---------      ---------
Loss before income taxes,
 minority interests,
 extraordinary item and
 cumulative effect of
 change in accounting principle                (30,508)       (12,661)
Provision for income taxes                         (11)          (127)
Minority interests                              (1,541)          (685)
                                             ---------      ---------
Loss before extraordinary
 item and cumulative
 effect of change in
 accounting principle                          (32,060)       (13,473)
Extraordinary item:
 Loss on early
  extinguishment of
  debt                                          (1,495)          --
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
 principle for costs
 of start-up activities                           --           (2,414)
                                             ---------      ---------
Net loss                                       (33,555)       (15,887)
Dividends on preferred stock                   (11,493)        (6,408)
                                             ---------      ---------
Net loss after deduction
 of dividends on
 preferred stock                              $(45,048)      $(22,295)
                                             =========      =========
Per common share --
 basic and diluted:
  Loss before extraordinary
   item and cumulative effect
   of change in accounting
   principle                                    $(0.27)        $(0.21)
  Extraordinary item                             (0.01)          --
  Cumulative effect of
   change in accounting
   principle                                      --            (0.03)
                                             ---------      ---------
  Net loss                                      $(0.28)        $(0.24)
                                             =========      =========
Common shares outstanding --
 basic and diluted                             158,566         94,732
                                             =========      =========
EBITDA (before restructuring
 charges):
  Site rental and
   broadcast transmission                      $48,528        $24,658
  Network services
   and other                                     2,604         (4,236)
                                             ---------      ---------
   Total EBITDA                                $51,132        $20,422
                                             =========      =========