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OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Sprint ] [NYSE: S] loves it when customers stay politically engaged using its wireless services, truly unlimited data plans, smartphones and tablets a" whether itas receiving a text message about a candidateas volunteer event or linking a candidateas latest speech to their favorite social media site.

"As the only national wireless carrier to offer a truly unlimited data experience, Sprint wants customers to enjoy events like this with seamless service and without worry for a need to curb their wireless usage."

For the estimated 40,000 to 45,000 delegates, volunteers, journalists, staff and visitors expected to convene in Tampa this week for the 2012 Republican National Convention, Sprint is enhancing capacity and coverage for voice, text messaging and data to serve their round-the-clock needs.

Sprintas network enhancements in Tampa include:

• Investing $9.7 million to augment in-building wireless service and point-to-point coverage as convention attendees move between venues.
• Boosting data capacity in downtown Tampa network by 25 percent by adding five permanent macro cell sites.
• Deploying a COW (Cell Site on Wheels) near the Tampa Bay Convention Center to enhance capacity and coverage for voice, data and text messaging along Bayshore Boulevard.
• Installing voice and data carriers to 41 existing Tampa area cell sites.
• Installing an outdoor cell site between the Tampa Bay Convention Center and Tampa Bay Times Forum that will provide additional coverage and capacity outside and between these venues.
• Supplying to each official convention venue a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to provide the necessary in-building coverage and the dedicated capacity needed to support the anticipated number of attendees at each location.
• Providing Tropicana Field a" the location of the conventionas kickoff event a" a DAS to enhance wireless coverage and capacity.

aSprint is proud to support the thousands of delegates, staff, volunteers and media attending the convention, by providing the necessary wireless enhancements to get immediate convention details, post photo and videos to their favorite social media sites, and send email and text messages to their friends and colleagues,a said Steve Elfman, president-Network Operations & Wholesale, Sprint. aAs the only national wireless carrier to offer a truly unlimited data experience, Sprint wants customers to enjoy events like this with seamless service and without worry for a need to curb their wireless usage.a

Enhancing Sprintas Tampa network for the convention and beyond

The network enhancements in Tampa wonat stop when the convention stops. During the next 90 days, the Tampa area is expected to receive 121 additional enhancements to its 3G network, part of Sprintas continued effort to improve customersa wireless experience.

Customers in select markets are beginning to enjoy the benefits of Network Vision, an all-new nationwide 3G/4G network. This new network provides better 3G service a" with a stronger wireless signal, faster data speeds, expanded coverage and better in-building performance a" and a 4G LTE network with faster speeds for data applications.

Sprint launched 4G LTE in July 2012 and expects to have largely completed the build-out of the network by the end of 2013. For the most up-to-date details on Sprintas 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit [ www.sprint.com/4GLTE ].

Sprint social media contest for the Samsung Galaxy S III

In addition to providing enhanced wireless for convention-goers, Sprint is offering Twitter users a chance to win a marble white Sprint 4G LTE-capable Samsung Galaxy S III on Thursday, Aug. 30 a" the final night of the Republican National Convention.

Between 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EDT, contest participants will be asked to tweet to [ @Sprint ] explaining how they would use a Samsung Galaxy S III and a Sprint unlimited data plan to stay engaged during the 2012 presidential election. All tweets are required to include the hashtag #SprintElection2012. Complete [ contest rules and entry requirements can be found online ].

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 56 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2012 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 its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nationas 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 ].