First Cellular Selects Andrew Wireless Caller Location System; Andrew Equipment Will Locate First Cellular 911 Callers, Assist Public Safety Agencies.

Business Editors

ORLAND PARK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2004

First Cellular of Southern Illinois has selected Andrew Corporation's Geometrix(R) caller location system to provide public safety agencies with accurate caller location information on cellular calls to 911.

Geometrix will be installed throughout First Cellular's 10,000 square-mile rural service area. The caller location system will be compatible with First Cellular's CDMA and GSM infrastructure and customer handsets and is adaptable to future technologies that First Cellular may implement. The Andrew Geometrix system is scheduled by First Cellular for its initial service during the summer of 2004.

"First Cellular prides itself on unmatched customer care in Southern Illinois, and we are pleased to bring this additional safety measure to our customers," said Terry Addington, First Cellular's president and chief executive officer. "We chose the Andrew system because of its proven performance, Andrew's experience in deploying the systems in rural areas, and because the system can improve the safety of our customers. In addition, no other location system could provide 911 location coverage to so many of our customers over our 10,000 square-mile rural area as rapidly as can the Andrew system. Our customers will benefit immediately when the system is installed."

Andrew's Geometrix system determines the position of wireless 911 callers and automatically forwards the caller location information to public safety agencies that receive 911 calls. In addition, Geometrix can provide accurate location support for wireless location-based services (LBS) that may be offered in the future.

The Geometrix location system will enable First Cellular of Southern Illinois to provide locations of wireless 911 callers to emergency response centers, called Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), that are equipped to receive such information. First Cellular customers and roamers will be able to continue using their existing handsets and current 911 calling procedures. To maintain caller privacy, Geometrix systems are designed to provide location information only when a caller initiates a 911 call.

"Andrew's caller location system will contribute to the safety of First Cellular's customers, as it does for millions of other cellular users," said Terry Garner, president of the Andrew Network Solutions Group. "We are proud to have been selected by First Cellular. Carriers have chosen our system above all others because it provides the best emergency coverage for their customers and because Andrew guarantees the performance and accuracy of our caller location solution."

Geometrix has been selected by more carriers than any other 911 location system and is the only wireless location system in operation with both national and regional wireless carriers. Carriers operate Geometrix systems in rural areas as well as in the largest cities in the U.S. Geometrix entered commercial service in wireless networks in October 2001 and was the first cellular caller location system to meet the Federal Communications Commission's stringent accuracy requirements.

About First Cellular of Southern Illinois

First Cellular of Southern Illinois operates a state-of-the-art digital network that provides cellular service to the twenty-four counties of Southern Illinois. The Company's service area encompasses approximately 10,000 rural square miles between St. Louis, Missouri and Evansville, Indiana. First Cellular is the only locally owned and operated cellular company in Southern Illinois. First Cellular offers its customers a selection of regional and national rate plans, including unlimited calling plans.

About Andrew Corporation 

Andrew Corporation (NASDAQ:ANDW) designs, manufactures and delivers innovative and essential equipment and solutions for the global communications infrastructure market. The company serves operators and original equipment manufacturers from facilities in 33 countries. Andrew (www.andrew.com), headquartered in Orland Park, IL, is an S&P 500 company founded in 1937.

Geometrix is a registered trademark of Andrew Corporation.