OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- In an effort to bring more benefits of the Sprint (NYSE: FON - News, PCS - News) communications network to Phoenix customers, the company today announced an agreement with AGL Networks to deploy a large metropolitan area network (MAN) ring in the Phoenix area later this year.

"The significance of today's announcement is that many Phoenix area customers will soon have their telecom traffic link more quickly into the Sprint network, an industry leader in reporting the fewest FCC-reportable long distance outages of the top three carriers," said Jim Patterson, vice president of Access Management at Sprint, referring to Sprint's seven consecutive years in reporting the fewest major outages of the leading long distance carriers. "Metro networks, such as this one in Phoenix, reduce Sprint's reliance on incumbent local exchange carriers and improve the reliability and service intervals that our company can deliver to customers."

The ring will connect the Sprint network to several local telecom exchange facilities -- two points of presence and several end offices -- as well as to a Sprint mobile switching center (MSC) in Phoenix. The MSC routes wireless calls for local PCS customers of Sprint. AGL Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources Inc. (NYSE: ATG - News), will lease fiber on the ring to Sprint within its 60-mile metro network, which covers the Phoenix central business district, as well as portions of Tempe, Ariz.

The Phoenix agreement marks the second time that Sprint has leased dark fiber from AGL Networks. In December 2002, the companies announced that Sprint had leased dark fiber to expand Sprint's presence in the Atlanta market -- home base for AGL Networks' parent company, AGL Resources, Inc. Late last year, AGLN decided to enter the Phoenix market after a customer requested that the company provide service there.

"Sprint's unprecedented reliability record proves that the company values quality and expertise in fiber networks," said Gordon Stark, senior vice president of sales and marketing for AGLN. "AGL Networks can provide that quality and reliability because we have been able to build on the expertise and business model we developed in Atlanta. Our goal is to help provide more communications choices and flexibility in those areas served by AGL Networks."

Sprint Corp.

AGL Networks LLC