Leap Completes Sale of Spectrum in Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, Idaho to Edge Acquisitions, LLC; Company Sells Spectrum for $3.25 Million


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 15, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Leap Wireless International, Inc. (OTCBB:LWIQE), an innovator of wireless communications services, today announced that it has completed the sale of 15 MHz of spectrum in each of the Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, Idaho markets to Edge Acquisitions, LLC for $3.25 million. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego, Calif. approved the transaction on Sept. 9, 2003.

Leap's subsidiary that owns these licenses, Cricket Licensee (Reauction), Inc., had previously entered into a license acquisition agreement with Edge Acquisitions, LLC. Competing bids were solicited on the licenses as required by the court.

About Leap

Leap, headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is a customer-focused company providing innovative communications services for the mass market. Leap pioneered the Cricket Comfortable Wireless(r) service that lets customers make all of their local calls from within their local calling area and receive calls from anywhere for one low, flat rate. For more information, please visit www.leapwireless.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains "forward-looking statements" reflecting management's current forecast of certain aspects of Leap's future. Some forward-looking statements can be identified by forward-looking words such as "believe," "think," "may," "could," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "plan," "expect," "should," "would" and similar expressions. This news release is based on current information, which we have assessed but which by its nature is dynamic and subject to rapid and even abrupt changes. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to:


 -- our ability to cause a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization to be
    timely and fully confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court, and our
    ability to successfully implement the plan;

 -- our ability to continue as a going concern;

 -- our ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to
    motions prosecuted by us in our Chapter 11 cases from time to
    time;

 -- risks associated with third parties seeking and obtaining
    Bankruptcy Court approval to terminate or shorten the exclusivity
    period for Leap, Cricket and substantially all of their
    subsidiaries to propose and confirm one or more plans of
    reorganization, for the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee or to
    convert the Chapter 11 cases of Leap, Cricket and substantially
    all of their subsidiaries to Chapter 7 cases; 

 -- our ability to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and
    service providers;

 -- our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our
    operations;

 -- the potential adverse impacts of the Chapter 11 cases on the
    liquidity or results of operations of Leap and Cricket;

 -- our ability to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and
    other employees;

 -- our ability to attract and retain customers;

 -- the unsettled nature of the wireless market, the current economic
    slowdown, service offerings of increasingly large bundles of
    minutes of use at increasingly low prices by some major carriers,
    other issues facing the telecommunications industry in general,
    our announcement of restructuring discussions, and our subsequent
    Chapter 11 filing, which have created a level of uncertainty that
    adversely affects our ability to predict future customer growth,
    as well as other key operating metrics;

 -- changes in economic conditions that could adversely affect the
    market for wireless services;

 -- the acceptance of our product offering by our prospective
    customers;

 -- the effects of actions beyond our control in our distribution
    network;

 -- rulings by courts or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    adversely affecting our rights to own and/or operate certain
    wireless licenses, or changes in our ownership that could
    adversely affect our status as an "entrepreneur" under FCC rules
    and regulations;

 -- our ability to maintain our cost, market penetration and pricing
    structure in the face of competition;

 -- failure of network systems to perform according to expectations;

 -- the effects of competition;

 -- global political unrest, including the threat or occurrence of war
    or acts of terrorism; and

 -- other factors detailed in the section entitled "Risk Factors"
    included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
    quarter ended March 31, 2003 and in our other SEC filings.

The forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of these risk factors. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Leap and the Leap logo design are trademarks of Leap Wireless International, Inc. Cricket and Comfortable Wireless are registered trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.


            

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