Western Wireless Announces Third Quarter 1999Financial Results.

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 1999--

--Company earns first quarterly profit; Cash flow of $71.7 million

and an increase in subscribers of 36,400--

Western Wireless Corporation (Nasdaq:WWCA), a leading provider of communication services to rural America,

"We had a great third quarter with strong revenue growth and our first positive earnings per share," said John W. Stanton, chairman and chief executive officer of Western Wireless. "The company achieved record average revenue per subscriber. EBITDA (operating income before non-cash charges) exceeded $71 million during the third quarter of 1999, a 65 percent increase from the same quarter in 1998."

"We also had positive cash flow for Western Wireless International, and strong subscriber growth," continued Stanton.

Mikal Thomsen, president and chief operating officer of Western Wireless, added, "We added or upgraded 75 cell sites this quarter, allowing the company to realize increased revenue while improving the quality of our customer's experience."

Company Results

At the end of the third quarter 1999, the company reported total revenues of $157 million, up 41 percent over the same quarter a year ago. Net income was $13.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 1999, resulting in basic income per share of $0.18.

Domestic subscribers increased by 36,400, to 774,000, during the third quarter of 1999, a 25 percent year to year increase. Service revenues for the third quarter of 1999 increased 41 percent from the same quarter a year ago to $150 million. EBITDA for the quarter was $71.7 million, a 65 percent increase over the third quarter of 1998. Capital expenditures were $50.5 million for the quarter. Over $21 million in free cash flow (EBITDA less capital expenditures) was generated during the third quarter of 1999.

Western Wireless International, operating companies in Croatia, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Iceland, and Latvia, continued their impressive growth in the third quarter of 1999. Service was successfully launched in Croatia and Haiti during the quarter.

Based in Bellevue, Wash., Western Wireless Corp. is a leading provider of wireless communications services in the western United States and abroad. It currently offers cellular service marketed under the Cellular One(R) name in 18 western states. Through its subsidiaries, Western Wireless offers wireless service in 6 countries. -0-

                     WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION
             SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL DATA
                        (Dollars in thousands)
                              (Unaudited)



                             Three Months             Nine Months
                          Ended September 30,      Ended September 30,
                         ---------------------------------------------
                             1999      1998          1999       1998
                         ----------------------    -------------------
                         ----------------------   --------------------

Revenues:
 Subscriber revenues     $102,441     $ 84,942  $ 284,643   $ 241,802
 Roamer revenues           46,461       20,972    104,142      44,669
 Equipment sales            6,809        4,133     16,680      10,097
 Other revenues             1,333        1,317      3,993       3,830
                       ----------------------   -------- -------------
      Total revenues      157,044      111,364    409,458     300,398
                       ----------------------   -------- -------------

Operating expenses:
 Cost of service           17,765       14,415     48,717      40,013
 Cost of equipment
  sales                    10,030        9,247     25,854      24,224
 General and
  administrative           30,341       22,313     85,893      64,361
 Sales and marketing       27,188       21,964     71,094      58,899
 Depreciation and
  amortization             27,020       19,199     76,065      54,241
 Stock based
  compensation              3,850            -     70,346           -
                         --------    ---------   --------    ----------
      Total operating
       expenses           116,194       87,138    377,969     241,738
                          =========  ==========   ========   =========
Operating income         $ 40,850     $ 24,226   $ 31,489    $ 58,660
                          =========  ==========   ========   =========

Recurring EBITDA         $ 71,720     $ 43,425  $ 177,900   $ 112,901
                          =========  ==========   ========   =========


Beginning subscribers     737,600      583,300    660,400     520,000
Change in subscribers
 (excluding
   acquisitions)           36,400       32,200    108,400      95,200
Change in subscribers
  due to acquisitions           -        4,800      5,200       5,100
                          ---------------------  ---------------------
Total change in
 subscribers               36,400       37,000    113,600     100,300
                          =====================  ========  ===========
Ending subscribers        774,000      620,300    774,000     620,300
                          ====================== ========  ===========


(a) Recurring EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes,
    depreciation, amortization and stock based compensation.


                     WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION
    Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
             (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
                              (Unaudited)


                            Three months ended     Nine months ended
                              September 30,          September 30,

                                      ------------    --------
                              1999       1998       1999        1998
                            ---------  ---------  ---------   -------

Revenues:
  Subscriber revenues      $  102,441  $ 84,942  $ 284,643  $ 241,802
  Roamer revenues              46,461    20,972    104,142     44,669
  Equipment sales and
   other revenues               8,142     5,450     20,673     13,927

     Total revenues           157,044   111,364    409,458    300,398

Operating expenses:
  Cost of service              17,765    14,415     48,717     40,013
  Cost of equipment
   sales                       10,030     9,247     25,854     24,224
  General and
   administrative              30,341    22,313     85,893     64,361
  Sales and marketing          27,188    21,964     71,094     58,899
  Depreciation and
   amortization                27,020    19,199     76,065     54,241
  Stock based
   compensation                 3,850               70,346

Total operating expenses      116,194    87,138    377,969    241,738


Operating income from
 continuing operations         40,850   24,226      31,489     58,660

Other income (expense):
  Interest and financing
   expense, net               (24,961)  (24,191)   (71,761)   (68,488)
  Equity in net loss of
   unconsolidated
    affiliates                 (3,857)     (579)   (11,542)    (5,184)
  Other, net                    1,001       103      3,028      1,422

Total other income (expense)  (27,817)  (24,667)   (80,275)   (72,250)

Minority interest in
 net loss of consolidated
 subsidiaries                     509                1,448

Net income (loss) from
 continuing operations         13,542      (441)   (47,338)   (13,590)

Net loss from
 discontinued operations                (49,232)   (82,152)  (153,273)
Cost of discontinuance                             (18,500)

 Total discontinued
  operations                            (49,232)  (100,652)  (153,273)


    Net income (loss)    $     13,542 $ (49,673) $(147,990)  (166,863)


Basic income
 (loss) per share
     Continuing
      operations         $       0.18  $  (0.01)   $ (0.62)$    (0.18)
     Discontinued
      operations                          (0.64)     (1.31)     (2.02)
Net income
 (loss) per share       $        0.18     (0.65)     (1.93)     (2.20)

Diluted income
 (loss) per share
     Continuing
      operations         $       0.17  $  (0.01)   $ (0.62)   $ (0.18)
     Discontinued
      operations                          (0.64)     (1.31)     (2.02)

Net income (loss) per share $    0.17     (0.65)     (1.93)     (2.20)


Weighted average shares
 outstanding
      Basic                76,892,000 75,877,000 76,585,000 75,828,000

      Diluted              79,642,000 75,877,000 76,585,000 75,828,000


Comprehensive income
 (loss)
  Net income (loss)      $     13,542          $  (147,990)
  Other comprehensive
   income:
    Foreign currency
    translation
     adjustment                    (9)                (190)



Total comprehensive
 income (loss)           $     13,533          $  (148,180)