Sprint Accelerates EV-DO Revision A Mobile Broadband Upgrade

Sprint Nextel Corp. on Thursday announced it is ahead of plan for its expansion and evolution of the Sprint Power Vision Network, a wireless broadband network covering 153 million people, which allows users to access audio, video and data applications with handheld and connection card devices.

Under the accelerated schedule, Sprint Nextel plans to begin its roll out of EV-DO Revision A during fourth quarter 2006, with coverage expected to reach more than 40 million people by year-end, according to the company.

Sprint Nextel said that users in markets where EV-DO Revision A is rolled out will experience download speeds of 450kbps to 800kbps, and average upload speeds of 300kbps to 400 kbps.

Overall, Sprint Nextel plans to reach more than 200 million people in the United States with mobile broadband data services (both EV-DO Revisions 0 and A) in 220 major metropolitan areas and 908 airports across the country with its Power Vision network by the end of 2006, the company said. By third quarter 2007, Sprint Nextel’s

Power Vision network will be completely upgraded to EV-DO Revision A.

The company said it successfully completed the first EV-DO Revision A data connection over the Sprint Power Vision network in San Diego, Calif., last week.

Sprint Nextel also has been demonstrating applications such as all-IP video telephony, push-to-talk (walkie-talkie service), multi-user video conferencing, real-time gaming and video streaming of both content and live Webcams simultaneously.

The company also will market a variety of EV-DO Revision A compatible devices in conjunction with the rollout of its upgraded mobile broadband network; starting first with connection cards offered in PCMCIA Type II, USB, and ExpressCard form factors. Sprint said these devices also will work on its current Sprint Power Vision network.

Sprint Nextel Corp. www.sprint.com