Nextel Expands Wireless Coverage in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky; Digital Walkie-Talkie and Wireless Phone Service Now Available in Surrounding Areas of Columbus and Cincinnati

Business Wire, May 16, 2005

SHARONVILLE, Ohio -- Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL) announced today it has expanded its wireless network to bring Nextel's popular four-in-one wireless services to several new areas in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Nextel customers in these areas can now take advantage of Nextel's Direct Connect(R) digital walkie-talkie service, and wireless data services, including two-way messaging, mobile email and the wireless Web, along with traditional digital cellular service.

"We are very excited to expand and enhance our service offerings throughout southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky," commented Mike Groneck, Nextel's district manager for the Cincinnati/Dayton market. Our customers and local residents have told us that they want Nextel coverage in these areas and they represent a sizeable opportunity for Nextel. We look forward to providing significant value and unmatched wireless service to businesses, government employees and individuals in and around these areas."

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Area

New coverage is now available throughout Kenton, Pendleton, Campbell and Bracken counties in Northern Kentucky along Routes 8 and 9 from Foster to Carthage and along Route 27 north of Butler. Additionally, new coverage in Ohio's Adams, Scioto and Brown counties along Route 52 to Aberdeen, and in and around Peebles further expands Nextel's coverage in this area. Coverage has also been extended east of Cincinnati in Dillsboro on Route 50 and in Connersville on Route 44.

Columbus Area

Southeast of Columbus, Nextel has expanded coverage in Jackson, Perry, Pickaway and Athens counties. Specifically, new coverage is now available in and around the towns of Jacksonville, Wellston, Somerset and Athens. Additionally coverage now extends south from Columbus to Portsmouth, just North of Kentucky on Route 23. New coverage north and west of the city includes Route 33 to Marysville in Union County and in Urbana in Champaign County.

Dayton Area

Nextel has also expanded coverage north of Dayton as well. In Darke County, areas in and around Union City on the Indiana border and North Star on Route 127 are now covered. Additionally Rockford in Mercer County and Jackson Center in Shelby County now have Nextel coverage.

"Nextel focuses on offering products that help our customers build their businesses and provide a return on investment for their wireless dollar," said Bill Kilgore, Nextel's district manager for the Columbus market. "Nextel's robust offering of wireless phones, services and data applications increase productivity by allowing people to access information anywhere and at anytime. For example, Nextel's Direct Connect service, which is part of all our phones, allows users to instantly connect with other Nextel subscribers across the country and in international locations. That is an extremely powerful communications tool."

Nextel has been offering digital wireless services in Ohio for nearly 10 years, and has continued to expand its network within the state based on customer needs. Nextel has a major presence in southern Ohio as well with sales offices in Sharonville, Dayton and Columbus. There are also 19 retail stores and dozens of authorized representative locations throughout Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky. In addition to the expanded coverage, Nextel recently announced availability of the i860 camera phone and the BlackBerry 7520 Wireless handheld(TM) combining Bluetooth, speakerphone and color screen.

About Nextel

Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 200 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Today 95 percent of FORTUNE 500(R) companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets where approximately 262 million people live or work.