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NEWS RELEASE
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[NEXTEL LOGO]                                   NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                                2001 Edmund Halley Drive
                                                Reston, VA  20191
                                                703 433-4000


For Immediate Release
                                                                       CONTACTS:
                                          INVESTORS: PAUL BLALOCK (703) 433-4300
                                                 MEDIA: BEN BANTA (703) 433-4700



              NEXTEL COMPLETES $1.0 BILLION CONVERTIBLE DEBT OFFERING

RESTON, Va., January 26, 2000 - Nextel Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXTL) today
announced that it has completed a private placement of $1.0 billion of its
5 1/4% Convertible Senior Notes due January 15, 2010. These Notes are
convertible at the option of the holders, prior to redemption or maturity, into
the Company's common stock at a conversion price of $148.80 per share (subject
to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events). Nextel intends to use the
net proceeds of the offering to fund strategic investments, capital
expenditures, working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes.

Neither the 5 1/4% Convertible Senior Notes, nor Nextel's common stock issuable
upon coversion thereof, have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and neither may be offered or sold in the United States absent an
effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of such Act. This press release does not constitute an
offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Convertible Notes or
underlying shares of Nextel's common stock issuable upon conversion of such
Convertible Notes.

Nextel Communications, based in Reston, Virginia, is a leading provider of fully
integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed
all-digital wireless network across the United States. Nextel and Nextel
Partners, Inc., currently serve 92 of the top 100 U.S. markets. In addition,
through Nextel International, Inc., Nextel has wireless operations and
investments in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, Peru, Japan
and Shanghai, China.
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