RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2004-- Nextel Recommends Including Communications in Emergency Plans as Experts Predict an Active Hurricane Season

As weather forecasters predict Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley will deliver a one-two punch to the Gulf Coast, communication is critical for everyone. Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL) reminds businesses and individuals alike to develop an emergency communication plan for use in the event of a disaster.

    Nextel Urges Businesses And Individuals To Prepare For Emergencies

    --  Businesses should prepare an emergency communications plan,
        including designating a contact person outside of the
        immediate area.

    --  Residents should prepare a family communication plan,
        including a contact outside the immediate area as well as a
        designated meeting place.

    --  Program emergency numbers, including your insurance company,
        into your wireless phone (include the area code).

    --  Make sure you have plenty of charged batteries and a car
        charger in case you need to evacuate or if you lose power to
        your home.

    --  Residents in areas at highest risk for storm damage should
        evacuate when instructed to do so.

    --  If you do evacuate your home or business, prominently place
        your cellular phone number on your door or another visible
        place so emergency personnel can contact you if necessary.

    --  Keep your wireless phones dry at all times.

    --  Receive weather alerts on your wireless phone to stay abreast
        of current weather situations, in case a television or radio
        is unavailable.

    --  In an emergency, increased wireless phone use may cause
        network congestion. Use your wireless phone for text messaging
        instead of calling.

In the event of an emergency, such as a tropical storm or hurricane, Nextel is prepared to assist first responders and public safety agencies that require effective interoperable wireless communications. In many such emergencies, the need for interoperable communications extends well beyond the traditional emergency responders like police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS), to include utilities, disaster-relief workers and government agencies at the federal, state and local levels.

Wireless customers, whether individuals, businesses or public safety organizations, rely on Nextel to meet their communication needs during emergencies. With Nextel Nationwide Direct Connect(SM) and International Direct Connect(SM), plus Cell sites on Wheels (COWs) and mobile Satellite Cell sites on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) Nextel has the unique ability to more quickly and effectively respond to unpredictable emergencies, both natural and manmade.

Nextel's ERT continually monitors emergency situations and customer needs, mobilizing Cell Sites on Wheels to impacted areas to immediately provide expanded coverage for emergency responders and other customers.

"Nextel's number one concern is for the safety and well being of its customers, employees and the community," said Greg Meacham, vice president of federal programs and homeland security for Nextel. "Nextel is ready at a moment's notice and we urge our customers to have an emergency communication plan as part of their emergency preparedness efforts."

    Nextel Is Prepared For Emergencies

    --  Nextel's Emergency Response Team monitors weather conditions
        to ensure effective and consistent communications during
        emergency situations.

    --  Nextel maintains its all-digital, wireless national network 24
        hours a day, seven days a week in order to prepare for
        emergencies, as well as handle them as they occur.

    --  Nextel cell sites and switching offices are designed and built
        to withstand hurricane-force winds.

    --  Nextel also has additional Cell Site on Wheels (COWs), which
        are self-contained mobile cell sites.

    --  Nextel has Satellite Cell Sites on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) -
        Nextel's newest and most versatile tools that feature
        state-of-the-art "go anywhere" satellite technology to
        instantly respond to emergency communication needs.

    --  Nextel's cell sites are backed up with high-powered batteries
        and/or backup generators to immediately compensate for any
        loss of commercial power.

    --  Nextel's switching facilities have multiple generator backups
        and switch to those automatically in the event of loss of
        commercial power.

    --  Nextel has hundreds of backup generators ready for deployment.

    About Nextel

Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 200 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Today 95 percent of FORTUNE 500(R) companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 296 of the top 300 U.S. markets where approximately 252 million people live or work.

CONTACT: Nextel Communications Inc., Reston
Media:
Michele S. Pinnau, 407-908-2137
or
Investors:
Paul Blalock, 703-433-4300

SOURCE: Nextel Communications Inc.