Clearwire Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results

Clearwire Corporation (“Clearwire”) (NASDAQ: CLWR), a leading provider of wireless high-speed Internet service, today reported financial and operating results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008.

“Clearwire’s solid third quarter results, which include a record high consolidated ARPU of over $40, a new record Market EBITDA margin in our Initial Markets and the fourth consecutive quarter of narrowing consolidated adjusted EBITDA losses, demonstrate once again the attractive economics associated with the market operations side of our business,” said Benjamin G. Wolff, chief executive officer of Clearwire. “On the market development side of our business, through thoughtful and judicious capital management and expense control, we focused our resources on the strategic priorities of preparing our upcoming mobile WiMAX markets for launch as well as successfully completing a proof of concept network overlay deploying mobile WiMAX technology in one of our existing markets during the quarter.”

“We were very gratified when last week the FCC announced unanimous approval of our pending transaction to combine Clearwire with Sprint’s WiMAX business,” Wolff continued. “With unparalleled spectrum resources, next generation technology that is commercialized today, key distribution partners and substantial financing, we believe Clearwire will be set to unleash a new way to Internet by offering a true mobile broadband experience for our customers. We continue to make progress toward closing the transaction before the end of the year.”

2008 Third Quarter and Year-to-Date Consolidated Results

Consolidated Average Revenue Per User (or ARPU) for the 2008 third quarter was a Clearwire record $40.43, an increase of $3.02 above the $37.41 level from the prior year third quarter. ARPU growth was driven by increased sales of new services, including our Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP), PC Card and other ancillary services, as well as a reduced level of promotional programs compared to the prior year.

Consolidated Churn was 3.0 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared to 2.3 percent for the third quarter of 2007 and, on a sequential quarter basis, compared to 2.6 percent in the second quarter of 2008. The increase in consolidated subscriber churn was primarily driven by an increase in domestic churn to 2.8 percent for the third quarter due to significantly reduced marketing efforts in our pre-WiMAX markets and increased bad debt-related churn reflecting a difficult consumer economic environment.

Consolidated Service Revenue increased by 47 percent to $60.8 million in the third quarter, versus $41.3 million for the same quarter of 2007. The growth in Service Revenue was driven primarily by Clearwire’s larger subscriber base, which has increased to approximately 469,000 at the end of the third quarter 2008, up from 348,000 at the end of the third quarter 2007. In anticipation of its previously announced upgrade of existing markets to mobile WiMAX and consistent with an ongoing primary focus on market level profitability, Clearwire continued to moderate new subscriber growth by significantly reducing sales and marketing efforts, resulting in approximately 8,300 net new subscribers during the third quarter.

Gross Margin declined slightly to 27 percent of Revenue in the third quarter from 29 percent in the same period in 2007 primarily due to the significantly increased number of network cell sites that the Company is leasing in advance of its planned mobile WiMAX market rollout. Clearwire ended the third quarter with a total of approximately 2,470 cell sites in service compared to approximately 2,150 as of September 30, 2007. In addition, at September 30, 2008 approximately 3,200 cell sites were leased and being prepared for mobile WiMAX deployment as compared to approximately 1,500 cell sites leased but not yet on air at the end of Q3 2007.

The third quarter of 2008 marks the fourth consecutive quarter for which Clearwire reported a narrowing Adjusted EBITDA loss. Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA reflected a loss of $72.9 million, versus an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $84.1 million for the same period in 2007. The decreased loss compared to the year-ago quarter was due primarily to a significant decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) consistent with the Company’s previously announced focus on moderating sales and marketing spending and subscriber growth in order to direct its resources toward development of new mobile WiMAX markets and the accelerated upgrade of existing markets to mobile WiMAX technology. The third quarter SG&A decrease was partially offset by increased network costs, customer care costs, and higher cash spectrum lease expense.

Clearwire reported a Net Loss of $166.6 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 compared to a Net Loss of $328.6 million for the same period in 2007. The 2007 period included a non-cash charge of $159.2 million related to extinguishment of debt. Please refer to note (6) under Definition of Terms and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures later in the release for information regarding Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss per share for the three and nine month periods ended 2007 and 2008.

Capital Expenditures (or CapEx) for the third quarter were $63.0 million, which was significantly below the $114.6 million CapEx level in the same period last year. CapEx decreased primarily due to higher network capital expenditures in the prior year required to launch five new Clearwire markets covering over 3 million POPs during third quarter 2007.

Consolidated Service Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $170.9 million, an increase of 61 percent from $106.1 million in the same period last year. The rapid revenue growth was fueled by subscriber growth of 35 percent and a $1.79 increase in ARPU for the nine month year-to-date period in 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. Consolidated Gross Margin for the nine month period was $46.2 million or 27 percent, compared to $36.7 million or 35 percent for the same period in 2007. The decrease in Gross Margin percentage was primarily due to the increased number of network cell sites that the Company is leasing in advance of its planned mobile WiMAX market rollout. Adjusted EBITDA loss for the nine month 2008 period was $229.4 million compared to $205.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, reflecting the increased number of launched markets year-over-year as well as continued investments in future growth.

Market-Level Progress

2008 Third Quarter and Year-to-Date Results

Clearwire’s Initial Markets, all 25 of which commenced operations prior to 2006, ended the third quarter of 2008 with approximately 226,000 subscribers. Service Revenue for the Initial Markets increased by 21 percent to $27.4 million for the quarter, versus $22.7 million in the third quarter of 2007. Service Revenue growth was driven by 10% year-over-year growth in subscribers, as well as increased delivery of new products and services.

Gross Margin for the group of Initial Markets increased to 77 percent for the 2008 third quarter, versus a Gross Margin of 74 percent for third quarter of 2007. The Initial Markets posted record Market EBITDA of $10.1 million and a Market EBITDA margin of 37 percent in the third quarter of 2008, a strong increase from the Market EBITDA margin of 10 percent for the group in the third quarter 2007. The Market EBITDA improvement resulted from Clearwire’s consistent focus on driving economies of scale and emphasis on containing SG&A expenses in the Initial Markets.

For the nine month year-to-date period ended September 30, 2008, Service Revenue in the Initial Markets increased 27 percent to $78.8 million from $62.0 million in the same nine month period in 2007. In addition, Gross Margin in the Initial Markets for the nine months was 77 percent compared to 74 percent in the same period last year. The additional market scale and focus on cost containment helped to significantly increase the Market EBITDA margin for the Initial Markets to 31 percent for the period, compared to 4 percent for the first nine months of 2007.

“We remain tremendously attuned to consistently improving execution and improving operational efficiencies in each of our markets,” added Wolff. “More than 70 percent of our 46 domestic operating markets are now Market EBITDA positive, and all of our U.S. markets as a group achieved a 13% Market EBITDA margin after turning Market EBITDA positive just last quarter. Our Initial Markets posted a record high Market EBITDA margin of 37 percent in the third quarter just ended. We believe our dependably strong market-level profitability demonstrates our business model is scalable and replicable, as evidenced by current margin achievement well in advance of the breadth of significantly enhanced services which will be enabled by our mobile WiMAX network.”

Management Webcast

Clearwire’s senior leadership team will discuss the company’s 2008 third quarter performance during a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time) today. The call is expected to last approximately 45 minutes. To access today’s conference call, please call 800-573-4752, or outside the United States please call 617-224-4324. The conference call passcode is 54580242. The simultaneous webcast can be accessed via the Internet at http://investors.clearwire.com. The conference call will be archived and available for replay until midnight Eastern Time (9 p.m. Pacific Time), on November 24, 2008. To access the replay, please call 888-286-8010, or outside the United States dial 617-801-6888. The replay passcode is 25044718.

About Clearwire

Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by telecom pioneer Craig O. McCaw, is a provider of simple, portable and reliable wireless high-speed Internet service. Clearwire customers connect to the Internet using licensed spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone lines. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., the company launched its first market in August 2004 and now offers service in 50 markets across the U.S, as well as in Europe. For more information, visit www.clearwire.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release, and other written and oral statements made by Clearwire from time to time, contains forward-looking statements which are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made with information that is currently available. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, management’s expectations regarding: future financial and operating performance and financial condition; proposed transactions; development and network launch; strategic plans and objectives; industry conditions; the strength of its balance sheet; and liquidity and financing needs. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Clearwire’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from such statements.Some factors that could cause actual results to differ are:

• We are an early-stage company with a history of operating losses and we expect to continue to realize significant net losses for the foreseeable future.
• Our pending transactions with Sprint and several strategic investors are subject to several closing conditions that, if not satisfied, could result in the transactions not being completed.
• The transaction agreement with Sprint and the strategic investors includes covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions prior to the completion of the transactions and that may cause our business and prospects to suffer if such transactions are not completed.
• The transactions with Sprint and the investors may present significant challenges to our management that could divert management’s attention from day-to-day operations and have a negative impact on our business.
• We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the transactions with Sprint and the strategic investors.
• Our business plan will require us to raise substantial additional financing both in the near term and over the next five years or more.
• We are committed to using commercially reasonable efforts to deploy wireless broadband networks based solely on mobile WiMAX technology once that technology meets certain specified performance criteria, even if there are alternative technologies available in the future that are technologically superior or more cost effective.
• Our business plan contemplates migration of our pre-WiMAX network to a mobile WiMAX network, which may not be developed to our satisfaction.
• We currently depend on our commercial partners to develop and deliver the equipment for our pre-WiMAX and mobile WiMAX networks.
• Many of our competitors are better established and have significantly greater resources, and may subsidize their competitive offerings with other products and services.
• Our substantial indebtedness and restrictive debt covenants could limit our financing options and liquidity position and may limit our ability to grow our business.
• Craig McCaw and Intel Capital collectively control a majority of our combined voting power, and may have, or may develop in the future, interests that may diverge from other stockholders.
• Future sales of large blocks of our common stock may adversely impact our stock price.

For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please refer to Clearwire’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2008 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 8, 2008. Clearwire assumes no obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking statements.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SEC

In connection with the proposed transactions with Sprint Nextel Corporation, Intel Corporation, Google Inc., Comcast Corporation, Time Warner Cable Inc., and Bright House Networks, LLC, Clearwire filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC on October 17, 2008. STOCKHOLDERS OF CLEARWIRE ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus was mailed to the stockholders of Clearwire beginning on October 21, 2008. Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by Clearwire through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Free copies of the definitive proxy statement and Clearwire’s other filings with the SEC also may be obtained from Clearwire, by directing a request to Investor Relations at 425-216-4735. In addition, investors and security holders may access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Clearwire on Clearwire’s website at www.clearwire.com.

Clearwire, Sprint and their respective directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Clearwire’s stockholders with respect to the transactions contemplated by the definitive agreement between Sprint, the Investors and Clearwire. Information regarding Clearwire’s directors and executive officers is contained in Clearwire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 29, 2008 for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which are filed with the SEC. Information concerning Sprint’s directors and executive officers is set forth in the proxy statement dated March 27, 2008 for Sprint’s 2008 annual meeting of shareholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Clearwire and Sprint, respectively, using the contact information set forth above. Additional information regarding interests of such participants is included in the proxy statement filed with the SEC and available free of charge as indicated above.

Definition of Terms and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company utilizes certain financial measures which are widely used in the telecommunications industry and are not calculated based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain of these financial measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Item 10 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

(1) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. EBITDA is defined as consolidated operating loss less depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated operating loss less depreciation and amortization less transaction related expenses less non-cash expenses including share-based compensation expense, non-cash tower/office rent expense and non-cash spectrum lease expense.

In a capital-intensive industry, management believes Adjusted EBITDA, as well as the associated percentage margin calculation, to be meaningful measures of the company’s operating performance. We use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure because management believes it facilitates comparisons of the company’s operating performance from period to period and comparisons of the company’s operating performance to that of other companies by backing out potential differences caused by transaction related expenses and non-cash items such as share-based compensation and non-cash expenses related to long-term leases. Because Adjusted EBITDA facilitates internal comparisons of our historical operating performance, management also uses Adjusted EBITDA for business planning purposes and in measuring our performance relative to that of our competitors. In addition, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA and similar measures are widely used by investors, financial analysts and credit rating agencies as a measure of our financial performance over time and to compare our financial performance with that of other companies in our industry.

(2) ARPU is service revenue, less legacy businesses revenue (businesses that were acquired through the acquisition of entities) and CPE (Customer Premise Equipment) revenue divided by the average number of subscribers in the period divided by the number of months in the period.

Management uses ARPU to identify average revenue per customer, to track changes in average customer revenues over time, to help evaluate how changes in our business, including changes in our service offerings and fees affect average revenue per customer, and to assist in forecasting future service revenue. In addition, ARPU provides management with a useful measure to compare our customer revenue to that of other wireless communications providers. We believe investors use ARPU primarily as a tool to track changes in our average revenue per customer and to compare our per customer service revenues to those of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.

(3) Churn, which measures customer turnover, is calculated as the number of subscribers that terminate service in a given month divided by the average number of subscribers in that month. Subscribers that discontinue service in the first 30 days of service for any reason, or in the first 90 days of service under certain circumstances, are deducted from our gross customer additions and therefore not included in the churn calculation.

Management uses churn to measure retention of our subscribers, to measure changes in customer retention over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our business affect customer retention. We believe investors use churn primarily as a tool to track changes in our customer retention. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.

(4) CPGA (Cost per Gross Addition) is selling, general and administrative costs less general and administrative costs and legacy businesses costs, plus CPE and PC Card equipment subsidy, divided by gross customer additions in the period.

Management uses CPGA to measure the efficiency of our customer acquisition efforts, to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new subscribers over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our sales and distribution strategies affect the cost-efficiency of our customer acquisition efforts. We believe investors use CPGA primarily as a tool to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new subscribers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.

(5) Market EBITDA is defined as the EBITDA (see definition (1) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA) in the markets. This calculation does not include an allocation of corporate general and administrative expenses or spectrum lease expense.

(6) Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss per share are non-GAAP financial measures and are defined as Net Loss and Net Loss Per Share excluding Transaction related expenses, Loss on extinguishment of debt and Other-than-temporary impairment loss and realized loss on investments.

Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss per share are used by management to facilitate comparisons of the company’s operating performance between and among periods. Since it removes Transaction related expenses, Loss on extinguishment of debt and Other-than-temporary impairment loss and realized loss on investments, it also facilitates measuring our performance to that of our competitors and comparisons to other companies.