Sprint Closes Transaction to Acquire U.S. Cellular Spectrum and Customers in the Midwest

Additional spectrum will significantly increase Sprint’s network capacity and further improve the customer experience in Chicago, St. Louis and other Midwest markets

Wide variety of offers and incentives available to affected customers in impacted markets

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), May 17, 2013 – Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) today completed its transaction with U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) to acquire 20MHz of PCS spectrum in various Midwest markets including Chicago, South Bend, Ind., and Champaign, Ill., and 10MHz of PCS spectrum in the St. Louis market. The additional spectrum will significantly increase Sprint’s network capacity and further improve the customer experience in these markets. In addition, the transaction includes approximately 420,000 U.S. Cellular customers.

Sprint and U.S. Cellular have already notified affected customers and Sprint will send them additional information on the exact timing and details of the transition which will last several months. Sprint and its Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and payLo prepaid brands are providing special offers and incentives for affected customers that significantly reduce the cost of acquiring a new device to transition from the U.S. Cellular network. In many cases, affected customers can switch from their current device to a similar or better Sprint or prepaid device for little or no cost and with a wide variety of contract or non-contract plans. Affected customers will not be charged an Early Termination Fee when switching their service. During the months-long transition period, U.S. Cellular’s network will remain active and affected customers may continue to use U.S. Cellular for their wireless service while evaluating their options. For more information, affected customers can call 800-216-7023 or visit www.sprint.com/uscellular.

“We know how important good value, network performance and excellent service are to these customers and Sprint has a wide portfolio of competitive devices, prepaid options, an improved 3G and growing 4G LTE network experience, and unlimited data, text and voice plans to meet their wireless needs,” said Paget Alves, Sprint chief sales officer. “We want their business and are motivated to make the transition as seamless as possible.”

The 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 U.S. industries, during the last four years. Sprint continues to bring a better wireless experience to more customers across the country as it builds out its all-new 3G and 4G LTE network. Sprint has launched 4G LTE in 88 markets nationwide and announced more than 170 markets where 4G LTE will be available in the coming months. Sprint offers a wide range of 4G LTE devices, including HTC One^® and Samsung Galaxy S^® 4. The wide selection of devices and Sprint’s Everything Data plans – including Any Mobile, Anytime^SM, unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network – Sprint provides one of the best choices in wireless.

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 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 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; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 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.