Pittsburgh Relies on Sprint and Its Powerful Networks as World Leaders Converge for G-20 Global Economic Summit

David L. Lawrence Convention Center Using Sprint’s Eco-Friendly Samsung Reclaim for Event.

Sprint Boosts Network Capacity/Coverage and Works with Local Public Safety Agencies.

PITTSBURGH-- As the city of Pittsburgh makes final preparations to host the G-20 Global Economic Summit Sept. 24-25, Sprint (NYSE:S) is taking great steps to ensure that world leaders, event staff and public safety officials can communicate seamlessly using Sprint mobile devices and services, including Nextel Direct Connect®, the industry-leading interoperable, push-to-talk service.

The G-20 Global Economic Summit is just one of nine national security events and approximately 34 presidentially declared disasters for which Sprint’s network staff and the Sprint Emergency Response Team (ERT) have provided support – most notably, the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, the 2008 and 2004 Democratic and Republican national conventions, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2004 G-8 Summit.

To prepare for this event, Sprint has devoted three months of one-on-one meetings and close coordination with local emergency management personnel, police officers and firefighters. Sprint network engineers are increasing round-the-clock monitoring, in-building coverage and capacity on the Nationwide Sprint Network by 50 percent and on its Nextel National Network by 15 percent in key locations throughout Pittsburgh, including:

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Point State Park, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and the Pittsburgh Central District.
Downtown Pittsburgh, where Sprint previously added more network capacity and assets for the 2009 championship celebrations of National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Areas designated for event demonstrators and staging emergency management operations.
Additionally, during 2008, Sprint invested approximately $31 million in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enhance coverage on its Nationwide Sprint Network and Nextel National Network. These 2008 investments also include more than $8.3 million in Pittsburgh and $1.1 million in western Pennsylvania.

Also, if further support is needed for public safety officials, the Sprint Emergency Response Team (ERT) will be called upon to deploy:

Satellite Cell Site on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) to provide additional network coverage, as well as interoperability among private radio networks completely independent of the local power and telephone infrastructure.
Wireless solutions to ensure they have maximized communications interoperability - including the Sprint ERT Go-Kit TM , which provides first responders immediate access to mobile communications tools for emergencies, including fully charged Sprint and Nextel Direct Connect phones and Sprint Mobile Broadband devices.
Supporting Pittsburgh’s commitment to a sustainable environment

Pittsburgh’s significant environmental accomplishments, including the construction of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, have garnered the city recognition for its commitment to a more sustainable world and for serving as primary venues for the G-20 Global Economic Summit.

To assist event staff at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with their wireless communications and to invoke the city’s commitment to being “green,” Sprint is loaning its newly released eco-friendly Samsung Reclaim TM devices to their coordination efforts.

The Reclaim is the first phone in the United States constructed partly from bio-plastic. The device is made from 80 percent recyclable materials and comes with a charger that is Energy Star approved and uses 12 times less power than the Energy Star standard.

In addition to The Reclaim, Sprint has recently announced a number of important sustainability initiatives and products:

Introducing an expanded line of eco-friendly wireless accessories that includes chargers and device cases.
Becoming the first U.S. wireless carrier to establish a set of sustainable design criteria for future handsets that operate on the Sprint network.
Implementing a series of new environmentally responsible initiatives in Sprint retail locations, including adding a dedicated green display area in select stores that highlights Sprint’s commitment to eco-friendly products and accessories.
Committing to reduce paper usage company wide by 30 percent during the next five years.
Launching www.sprint.com/green - a Sprint green-themed Web site, which details the company’s green mobile applications and accessories. This site also helps customers learn about Sprint’s sustainability initiatives, including online bill pay, wireless recycling programs and acquiring green tips, such as using mobile GPS to calculate the quickest route to save gas.
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 wireless networks serving almost 49 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2009; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The company’s customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.