Sprint Reports Q2

RESTON, Va. -- Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S - News) today reported second quarter 2007 financial results. In the quarter, the company reported a strong sequential improvement in post-paid net additions and profitability. The company experienced continued strong demand for wireless data services and wireline IP services and growth of the base of PowerSource(TM) subscribers. Sprint Nextel also continues to build momentum around its planned WiMAX offering and to achieve key milestones in the development of high-performance push-to-talk services to be delivered on its CDMA network.

In the second quarter of 2007, diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations was 1 cent, compared to 10 cents in the second quarter of 2006, and a loss of 7 cents per share in the first quarter of 2007. Adjusted EPS before Amortization* was 25 cents, compared to 32 cents in the year-ago period and 18 cents in the first quarter of 2007. The yearly decline in earnings per share is due to a lower contribution from operations, start-up costs associated with the WiMAX initiative and increased net interest expense, partially offset by fewer common shares outstanding. The sequential improvement is due to a stronger contribution from operations.

Consolidated net operating revenues of $10.2 billion in the second quarter were 2% above the year-ago period and increased 1% sequentially. Consolidated adjusted OIBDA* of $2.9 billion declined 10% from the second quarter of 2006 but increased 12% sequentially. Second quarter capital expenditures were $1.7 billion and free cash flow* was $183 million.

Post-paid net additions increased more than 235,000 from the first quarter and were a positive 16,000 for the quarter. In the quarter, Sprint Nextel experienced strong post-paid demand on the CDMA platform. These gains were offset by lower demand for iDEN post-paid services. MVNO partners reported solid growth in what has typically been a seasonally weak quarter. At the end of the period, the company had enrollments of approximately 100,000 subscribers for the trial of the Boost Mobile unlimited local calling plan. These subscribers are reflected in the pre-paid subscriber category.

"A year ago, and again in January of this year, we highlighted areas for improvement in our core operations and outlined investments we would be making to address these areas. These investments are focused on improving iDEN network performance, increasing customer retention, enhancing our brand image and reinvigorating our third-party channels," said Gary Forsee, Sprint Nextel chairman and CEO. "In the second quarter, Sprint began to realize benefits from our increased funding of business operations. We reported a double-digit gain in subscriber acquisitions in our business channels. We met our goal of reducing churn to 2.0%, and network performance continued to improve. Industry-leading average post-paid customer revenues of $60 in the quarter and staffing actions in the first quarter supported a strong sequential improvement in adjusted OIBDA.

Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S)