Sprint Emergency Response Team Supports Large-Scale Field Training Exercise in Ventura County California

Sprint provides satellite Internet connectivity to first responders

CAMARILLO, Calif. (BUSINESS WIRE), May 10, 2011 – Today, the Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) Emergency Response Team provided equipment and personnel in support of Operation Medical Shelter, sponsored by the Ventura County Public Health Department. This 36-hour Medical Operations training exercise prepares first responders, hospitals and volunteer organizations to respond to a catastrophic disaster involving a significant number of injuries.

“Reliable communications are vital for first responders, receiving hospitals, and support organizations to best care for victims during the initial period after a disaster,” said Tanya Lin, operations manager for the Sprint Emergency Response Team (ERT). “Sprint ERT supports field training exercises such as Operation Medical Shelter to educate, inform and support federal, state and local agencies.”

Sprint ERT deployed data services over satellite from a SatCOLT (Satellite Cell Site on Light Truck) and experienced personnel, providing internet connectivity to both exercise participants and support staff.

“The objective of this exercise was to place a significant strain on our emergency medical system (police, fire, EMS, and hospitals) by simulating an event that caused hundreds of injuries simultaneously. When responding to an event of this magnitude, the reliance on communications to capture patient information, track patients as they are transported to receiving hospitals, and have that information seamlessly flow from the scene through the hospital setting is absolutely essential,” said Dan Wall, Education/Training Coordinator with the Ventura County Public Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness Office.

Sprint ERT maintains a fleet of vehicles providing both voice and data services over satellite, thousands of handsets and devices in inventory, and a trained and experienced full-time team supported by over 1,000 trained Sprint Reservists.

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 served more than 51 million customers at the end of first quarter 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless^SM; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.