Sprint Nextel Cites WiMAX Network Progress for 2007.

* Initial service set for Chicago and Washington D.C. areas

* Nokia joins expanding WiMAX ecosystem

* Additional WiMAX chip, device commitments received

* Preview available of devices and applications at CES

RESTON, Va. -- Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) announced progress with its plans for a large scale advanced mobile broadband network designed to bring wireless innovation to devices and new multimedia mobile applications to customers.

Sprint Nextel intends to launch Mobile WiMAX broadband services in initial markets by year-end 2007 with a larger roll-out encompassing at least 100 million people by year-end 2008. "We enter 2007, the year of our history-making WiMAX service launch, as the broadband mobility leader," remarked Barry West, president, 4G Mobile Broadband. "Our next generation network plans have catalyzed the industry, and momentum behind our mobility vision grows with increasing technology adoption."

Sprint Nextel last August announced WiMAX IEEE802.16e-2005 as its next generation mobile technology platform and formed an infrastructure development ecosystem with charter partners Intel Corporation, Samsung and Motorola. They plan on using a chipset embedding strategy in new and conventional devices to support rapid market adoption and pervasive access of WiMAX mobility technology. As a result, Sprint Nextel customers will experience a new mobile data network designed to offer faster speeds, lower costs, greater convenience and enhanced multimedia service quality. Indicative of the current momentum behind Sprint Nextel's Mobile WiMAX initiative:

* The Chicago and Washington D.C. areas have been chosen as initial WiMAX service areas with additional markets to be identified based on market-readiness estimates;

* Nokia, the world's largest cell phone manufacturer and leading network supplier, was named a key infrastructure and consumer electronic device supplier;

* Motorola announced a strategic initiative to develop mobile WiMAX chipsets for use in Motorola's next-generation WiMAX devices;

* Samsung has committed to delivering six WiMAX-capable devices (including Ultra mobile PCs and personal media players); Samsung also plans to enter the WiMAX chipset business;

* Intel completed the design of a single-chip, multi-band WiMAX/WiFi chipset that it will sample in card and module forms in late 2007;

* LG Electronics Inc. intends to develop an infotainment device that would work on the Sprint Nextel WiMAX network;

* Sprint Nextel WiMAX Ecosystem partners will preview future network mobility devices and 4G technology applications over 2.3/2.5GHz spectrum during the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 8-11; while Sprint TV service partner MobiTV demonstrates WiMAX mobile TV.

Sprint Nextel will work with WiMAX ecosystem partners and others to incorporate WiMAX technology in a range of computing, portable multi- media, interactive and other consumer electronic devices. The intent is to wirelessly enable the multitude of stand-alone consumer electronic devices that currently lack connectivity or Internet access, thereby facilitating digital life amid a new era of user-generated content. Sprint Nextel has the experience, network infrastructure, spectrum and distribution channels to make 4G broadband mobility services pervasive and indispensable for customers.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving more than 51 million customers at the end of third quarter 2006; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

Safe Harbor 

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding the plans for the development and deployment of a 4G network and the related infrastructure and portable data and consumer electronics devices, including the expected capital expenditures related to the development of the 4G network, expected capabilities and contributions of initiative participants and collaborating members, expected capabilities and performance of the 4G network and related devices, including speeds, cost, convenience and quality, the expected timing of service availability, planned coverage of the 4G network and related devices, the expected development of mobile WiMAX-enabled chipsets, the expected nature, features and number of portable multi-media and other consumer electronic devices, the expected adoption of mobile WiMAX by other carriers, and the planned strategic marketing and product alliance to be formed by Sprint and other consumer electronic companies. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "intend," and "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management's judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking statements, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, the availability and performance of related infrastructure, devices and its spectrum, as well as customer and network usage, customer growth and retention, pricing, development, deployment and operating costs, the timing of various events and the economic environment.

Sprint Nextel believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Sprint Nextel is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. Sprint Nextel provides a detailed discussion of risk factors in periodic SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K for 2005, as amended, and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2006. You are encouraged to review these filings.