investors

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2000--Crown Castle International Corp. (Nasdaq:TWRS) today reported record results for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2000.

Revenues for the third quarter of 2000 increased 76 percent to $174.6 million compared to $98.9 million during the third quarter of 1999. Tower cash flow for the third quarter increased 53 percent to $59.5 million, up from $38.8 million in last year's third quarter. Third quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, grew 70 percent to $68.8 million compared to $40.6 million in last year's third quarter. The Company added 1,427 new tenants and 1,078 tenants from acquisitions in the third quarter of 2000 compared to 880 new tenants and 1,975 tenants from acquisitions added in the third quarter of 1999.

During the quarter, the Company built 330 towers and acquired 714 towers. Net of anchor tenants on newly-built towers, the Company added 1,282 new tenants during the third quarter, representing an annualized co-location rate of .45 tenants per tower on the 11,453 sites owned and managed at the beginning of the quarter. The 1,282 new tenants added represent an increase of 18 percent over the 1,091 new tenants added during the second quarter of 2000. Annual same tower wireless revenue growth was 32 percent for the 7,068 towers owned and operated by the Company on Sept. 30, 1999.

"Given the tremendous growth in our organization this year, I am pleased that we continue to exceed our internal operating and financial goals while positioning the Company to continue its first-mover status in other markets where we believe that demand for our services will be robust," stated Ted B. Miller, Jr., chairman and CEO of Crown Castle International. "Also, the outstanding performance of our services business this quarter reflects the increasing confidence our carrier partners have in outsourcing more of their activities to Crown Castle."

OUTLOOK FOR Q4 2000

The following statements are based on current expectations and assume a US dollar to UK pound exchange rate of 1.45 US dollars to

• 1.00 UK pound. These statements are forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially.

The Company expects fourth quarter site rental and broadcast transmission revenue to be between $120 million and $123 million, assuming that new tenants are added to existing towers at an annualized rate of between .40 tenants per tower and .50 tenants per tower during the quarter. The Company expects fourth quarter network services revenue to be between $45 million and $55 million. The Company expects fourth quarter EBITDA of between $67 million and $72 million.

The Company expects to construct approximately 225 to 275 new towers during the fourth quarter. The Company expects total capital expenditures to be between $150 million and $165 million during the fourth quarter.

The Company expects total interest expense, net of interest income, to be between $65 million and $70 million for the fourth quarter.

OUTLOOK FOR YEAR 2001

Currently, the Company projects total revenues of between $750 million and $800 million for year 2001, and total EBITDA of between $340 million and $350 million, assuming an exchange rate of 1.45 US dollars to 1.00 UK pound. The Company is currently in the process of budgeting for year 2001 and expects to provide a more detailed outlook for year 2001 on or before the release of the Company's fourth quarter financial results.

Crown Castle has scheduled a conference call for Friday morning, Oct. 27, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss third quarter financial and operational results and the Company's Outlook. To participate in the call, dial 719/457-2665 at least ten minutes before the conference call begins and ask for the Crown Castle conference call. Investors, analysts and the general public will also have the opportunity to listen to the conference call free over the Internet by visiting the Company's Web site at www.crowncastle.com. To listen to the live call on the Web, please visit the Crown Castle Web site at least fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

Crown Castle International Corp. engineers, deploys, owns and operates technologically advanced shared wireless infrastructure, including extensive networks of towers and rooftops as well as analog and digital audio and television broadcast transmission systems. The Company offers near-universal broadcast coverage in the United Kingdom and significant wireless communications coverage to 68 of the top 100 United States markets, more than 95 percent of the UK population and more than 92 percent of the Australian population. Crown Castle International owns, operates and manages over 12,000 wireless communication towers internationally. For more information on Crown Castle International, visit: www.crowncastle.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, expectations, projections and estimates regarding (i) demand for our assets and services, (ii) our strength in our industry, (iii) the US dollar to UK pound exchange rate, (iv) site rental and broadcast transmission revenue and EBITDA, (v) new tenant co-location rates, (vi) network services revenue and EBITDA, (vii) towers to be constructed, (viii) capital expenditures, (ix) interest expense, and (x) total revenues and total EBITDA for Year 2001.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to the success or failure of our efforts to implement our business strategy and the following:

• We may be unable to manage our significant growth.

• Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to react to changes in our business and limit our ability to use debt to fund future capital needs.

• If we are unable to service our indebtedness, our indebtedness may be accelerated.

• Restrictive covenants on our debt instruments may limit our ability to take actions that may be in our best interests.

• We may be unable to raise the significant capital required to fund our operations and make acquisitions.

• We may not be able to construct or acquire new towers at the pace and in the locations that we desire.

• Our business depends on the demand for wireless communications.

• Demand for our network services business is very volatile which causes our network services operating results to vary significantly for any particular period.

• We operate in an increasingly competitive industry and many of our competitors have significantly more resources than we do.

• Extensive regulations, which could change at any time, govern our business and industry, and we could fail to comply with these regulations.

• We could suffer from future claims if radio frequency emissions from equipment on our towers is demonstrated to cause negative health effects.

• Our international operations expose us to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

• We are heavily dependent on our senior management.

Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. More information about potential factors which could affect the Company's financial results is included in the Risk Factors sections of the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tables to Follow

                      Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                         Sept. 30,                  Sept. 30,
                    ----------------------    ----------------------
                       2000       1999          2000           1999
                    --------     ---------    ---------    ---------
Net revenues:
 Site rental
  and broadcast
  transmission       $117,174      $75,632     $320,418     $183,135
 Network services
  and other            57,415       23,295      126,774       48,428
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
   Total net
    revenues          174,589       98,927      447,192      231,563
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Costs of
 operations:
  Site rental
   and broadcast
   transmission        50,383       32,934      139,233       78,018
  Network
   services
   and other           34,993       11,712       70,901       26,869
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
    Total costs
     of
     operations        85,376       44,646      210,134      104,887
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
General and
 administrative        18,196       12,534       52,544       30,076
Corporate
 development            2,222        1,194        6,415        4,134
Restructuring
 charges                 --           --           --          1,814
Non-cash
 compensation
 charges                  808          501        1,619        1,672
Depreciation
 and
 amortization          65,596       39,850      167,365       89,369
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Operating income
 (loss)                 2,391          202        9,115         (389)
Interest and
 other income
 (expense)             10,217        7,923       22,586       12,802
Interest expense
 and amortization
 of deferred
 financing
 costs                (65,498)     (34,506)    (173,987)     (72,348)
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Loss before
 income taxes,
 minority
 interests,
 extraordinary
 item and
 cumulative
 effect of
 change in
 accounting
 principle            (52,890)     (26,381)    (142,286)     (59,935)
Provision for
 income taxes            (127)         (71)        (163)        (268)
Minority
 interests                 52         (615)      (1,806)      (1,187)
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Loss before
 extraordinary
 item and
 cumulative
 effect of
 change in
 accounting
 principle            (52,965)     (27,067)    (144,255)     (61,390)

Extraordinary
 item:
  Loss on early
   extinguishment
   of debt               --           --         (1,495)        --
Cumulative effect
 of change in
 accounting
 principle
 for costs
 of start-up
 activities              --           --           --         (2,414)
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net loss              (52,965)     (27,067)    (145,750)     (63,804)
Dividends
 on
 preferred
 stock                (16,353)      (6,824)     (39,571)     (19,846)
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net loss
 after
 deduction
 of dividends
 on preferred
 stock               $(69,318)    $(33,891)   $(185,321)    $(83,650)
                    =========    =========    =========    =========
Per common
 share --
 basic and
 diluted:
  Loss before
   extraordinary
   item and
   cumulative
   effect of
   change in
   accounting
   principle           $(0.36)      $(0.23)      $(1.07)      $(0.66)
  Extraordinary
   item                  --           --          (0.01)        --
  Cumulative
   effect of
   change in
   accounting
   principle             --           --           --          (0.02)
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Net loss             $(0.36)      $(0.23)      $(1.08)      $(0.68)
                    =========    =========    =========    =========
Common shares
 outstanding
 -- basic
 and diluted          191,763      149,621      171,985      123,067
                    =========    =========    =========    =========
EBITDA
 (before
 restructuring
 charges):
  Site rental
   and broadcast
   transmission       $59,481      $38,788     $160,254      $96,435
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Network
   services
   and other            9,314        1,765       17,845       (3,969)
                    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
   Total EBITDA       $68,795      $40,553     $178,099      $92,466
                    =========    =========    =========    =========

CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Towers & Tenants Fact Sheet

           ----------------------------  ---------------------------
              Quarter Ended 12/31/99        Quarter Ended 3/31/00
           ----------------------------  ---------------------------
              US       UK      Total        US       UK      Total
           ----------------------------  ---------------------------
 Sites:
  Owned
   Towers   5,306     2,020     7,326     6,351      2,146     8,497
 Managed
  Towers       13      --          13        13       --          13
 Rooftop
  Sites        98        51       149        98         51       149
           ----------------------------  ---------------------------
Total
 Sites      5,417     2,071     7,488     6,462      2,197     8,659

Site
 Activity:
  Beginning
   Sites    5,109     1,959     7,068     5,417      2,071     7,488
  Built       200       112       312       182        126       308
  Acquired    108      --         108       864       --         864
  Lost        --       --        --          (1)      --          (1)
  Managed
   Sites
   Added     --        --        --        --         --        --
           ----------------------------  ---------------------------
Ending
 Sites      5,417     2,071     7,488     6,462      2,197     8,659
           ----------------------------  ---------------------------

                -------------------------   -------------------------
                  Quarter Ended 6/30/00       Quarter Ended 9/30/00
                -------------------------   -------------------------
                 US    UK     AUS   Total    US     UK    AUS  Total
                -------------------------   -------------------------
Sites:
 Owned
  Towers        8,379 2,196   --   10,575   9,359  2,252   188 11,799
 Managed
  Towers           13  --      716    729      13   --     528    541
 Rooftop
  Sites            98    51   --      149      98     51  --      149
                -------------------------   -------------------------
Total
 Sites          8,490 2,247    716 11,453   9,470  2,303   716 12,489
                -------------------------   -------------------------
Site
 Activity:
  Beginning
   Sites        6,462 2,197   --    8,659   8,490  2,247   716 11,453
  Built           247    50   --      297     274     56  --      330
  Acquired      1,781  --      716  2,497     714   --    --      714
  Lost           --    --     --     --        (8)  --    --       (8)
  Managed
   Sites
   Added         --    --     --     --      --     --    --     --
                -------------------------   -------------------------
Ending
 Sites          8,490 2,247    716 11,453   9,470  2,303   716 12,489
                -------------------------   -------------------------

              --------------------------  ---------------------------
                Quarter Ended 12/31/99       Quarter Ended 3/31/00
              --------------------------  ---------------------------
                US       UK      Total       US       UK     Total
              --------------------------  ---------------------------
Tenant
 Activity:
  Beginning
   Tenants      9,863    3,705   13,568   11,306    3,995   15,301
  Anchors
   on Builds      150      112      262      123      126      249
 New              512      178      690      578      200      778
 Acquired         781     --        781    1,118     --      1,118
              --------------------------  ---------------------------
Ending
 Tenants       11,306    3,995   15,301   13,125    4,321   17,446
              --------------------------  ---------------------------

               -------------------------  ----------------------------
                Quarter Ended 6/30/00         Quarter Ended 9/30/00
               -------------------------  ----------------------------
                US    UK    AUS   Total     US    UK     AUS     Total
               -------------------------  ----------------------------
Tenant
 Activity:
  Beginning
   Tenants     13,125 4,321  --   17,446  16,337 4,598  1,061   21,996
  Anchors
   on Builds      105    50  --      155      89    56   --        145
  New             864   227  --    1,091     918   194    170    1,282
  Acquired      2,243  --   1,061  3,304   1,078  --     --      1,078
               -------------------------  ----------------------------
Ending
 Tenants       16,337 4,598 1,061 21,996  18,422 4,848  1,231   24,501
               -------------------------  ----------------------------

                        ----------------------  ---------------------
                        Quarter Ended 12/31/99  Quarter Ended 3/31/00
                        ----------------------  ---------------------
                           US    UK    Total      US    UK     Total
                        ----------------------  ---------------------
Tenants per Site          2.1    1.9    2.0      2.0    2.0    2.0

New Tenants per Site(a)   0.12   0.14   0.13     0.13   0.15   0.13
Annualized                0.50   0.56   0.52     0.50   0.59   0.53

Pure Co-Lo's per Site(a)  0.10   0.09   0.10     0.11   0.10   0.10
Annualized                0.40   0.36   0.39     0.43   0.39   0.42
                        ----------------------  ----------------------

                         ---------------------  ----------------------
                         Quarter Ended 6/30/00   Quarter Ended 9/30/00
                         ---------------------  ----------------------
                           US  UK  AUS  Total    US   UK   AUS   Total
                         ---------------------  ----------------------
Tenants per Site           1.9  2.0 1.5  1.9    1.9   2.1   1.7   2.0

New Tenants per Site(a)   0.14 0.12  --  0.14   0.11  0.11  0.24  0.12
Annualized                0.58 0.49  --  0.56   0.46  0.43  0.95  0.48

Pure Co-Lo's per Site(a)  0.13 0.10  --  0.13   0.11  0.09  0.24  0.11
Annualized                0.53 0.41  --  0.50   0.43  0.35  0.95  0.45
                         ---------------------  ----------------------

    (a) Excludes acquired towers and acquired tenants.

--30--MJB/ho*