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                                                                     Exhibit 4.2


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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT





                             Dated November 12, 1999





                                     between




                           NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.




                                       and



                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.,
            As Representative of the Several Purchasers Named in the
                      Purchase Agreement Referred to Herein




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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

      THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into November 12, 1999, between NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. as representative of the
several purchasers named in the Purchase Agreement referred to below (the
"Initial Purchasers").

      This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated November
5, 1999, between the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the "Purchase
Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 9.375%
Senior Serial Redeemable Notes due 2009 (the "Securities"). In order to induce
the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has
agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their respective direct and
indirect transferees the registration rights with respect to the Securities set
forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the
closing under the Purchase Agreement.

      In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

      1.    Definitions.

      As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall
   have the following meanings:

      "1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
   time.

      "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
   time to time.

      "Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase
   Agreement.

      "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also
   include the Company's successors.

      "Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange
   Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

      "Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act
   effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

      "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
   registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
   form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in
   each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto
   and all material incorporated by reference therein.

      "Exchange Securities" shall mean securities issued by the Company
   containing terms identical to the Securities (except that such Exchange
   Securities shall bear no



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   legend and shall be free from restrictions on transfers), to be offered to
   Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange
   Offer.

      "Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any
   Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and
   indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities
   under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this
   Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include Participating Broker-Dealers (as
   defined in Section 4(a)).

      "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as
   of November 12, 1999, between the Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
   as trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise
   modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

      "Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

      "Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
   principal amount at Stated Maturity (as defined in the Indenture) of
   outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or
   approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is
   required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its
   affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) (other
   than the Initial Purchasers or subsequent holders of Registrable Securities
   if such subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason
   of their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
   determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
   required percentage or amount.

      "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
   unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
   subdivision thereof.

      "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
   Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
   amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus
   supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
   Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all
   other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case
   including all material incorporated by reference therein.

      "Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

      "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
   that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) except in
   the case of any Initial Purchaser to the extent of any unsold allotment and
   Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4) to the extent set
   forth in Section 4(a), upon the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, (ii)
   when a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall
   have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall
   have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (iii) when
   such Securities are saleable to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any
   similar provision then in force, but


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   not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or (iv) when such Securities shall have
   ceased to be outstanding.

      "Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
   performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
   without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of
   Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and
   expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue
   sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any
   Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of
   the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any
   Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and
   distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or
   supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements
   and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this
   Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, if any, (v) the fees and
   disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, if any, (vi) the fees and
   disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf
   Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the
   Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which
   counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (vii) the fees
   and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company,
   including the expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters
   required by or incident to such performance and compliance, but excluding (x)
   fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and
   expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and (y) underwriting
   discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or
   disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

      "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
   Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities
   pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and
   supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective
   amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
   exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

      "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

      "Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
   Section 2(b) hereof.

      "Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration statement
   of the Company which covers all of the Registrable Securities (and may
   include other securities of other Persons) on an appropriate form under Rule
   415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC,
   and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
   post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
   therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
   therein.

      "Trustee" shall mean the trustee under the Indenture.



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      "Underwriters" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

      "Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering" shall mean a
   registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for
   reoffering to the public.

      2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.

      (a)   To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its best efforts
to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer
by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities for
Exchange Securities and to have such Registration Statement remain effective
until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company shall commence the Exchange
Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC and use its best efforts to have the Exchange Offer
consummated not later than 60 days after such effective date. The Company shall
commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and
accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other
disclosures as are required by applicable law:

      (i)   that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement
   and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered will be accepted for
   exchange;

      (ii)  the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at
   least 30 days from the date such Prospectus is mailed) (the "Exchange
   Dates");

      (iii) that any Registrable Securities not tendered will remain outstanding
   and shall continue to accrue interest at the initial rate borne by the
   Registrable Securities and, other than Registrable Securities referred to in
   Section 2(b) below, will not retain any rights under this Agreement;

      (iv)  that Holders electing to have Registrable Securities exchanged
   pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable
   Securities, together with the enclosed letters of transmittal, to the
   institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
   of New York) specified in the Prospectus prior to the close of business on
   the last Exchange Date; and

      (v)   that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not later
   than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the
   institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
   of New York) specified in the Prospectus a telegram, telex, facsimile
   transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal
   amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that
   such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Registrable Securities
   exchanged.

      As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:

      (i)   accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof
   tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and



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      (ii)  deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation
   all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by
   the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly countersign and
   register and mail to each Holder, Exchange Securities with an aggregate
   principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
   Securities surrendered by such Holder.

The Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with
the Exchange Offer. The Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names
and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial
Purchasers shall have the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such
Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the
Exchange Offer.

      (b)   In the event that the Exchange Offer has been completed and, in the
opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers, a Registration Statement must be
filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by any Initial Purchaser in connection
with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities held by it that constitute
an unsold allotment, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause to be filed
as soon as practicable after the rendering of such opinion and the delivery
thereof, if written, is given to the Company, a Shelf Registration Statement
providing for the sale by the Initial Purchasers of such Registrable Securities
and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. The
Initial Purchasers shall sell out their unsold allotments before making sales of
any other Securities and the Initial Purchasers shall notify the Company upon
the sale of all of their unsold allotments. The Company agrees to use its best
efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for the
period referred to in Rule 144(k) or until all of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement. The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the
Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such
Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a
Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its best
efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The
Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any
such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the
SEC.

      (c)   The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with
the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b). Each Holder shall pay
all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating
to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement.

      (d)   An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will
not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by
the SEC; provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such
interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume.


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As provided for in the Indenture, in the event the Exchange Offer is not
consummated, or if required a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared
effective, on or prior to June 15, 2000, the annual interest rate borne by the
Securities shall be increased by 0.5% per annum on the affected Securities from
June 15, 2000, and, if the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to
September 15, 2000, thereafter the annual interest rate borne by the affected
Securities shall be increased by an additional rate of 0.5% per annum on such
Securities from September 15, 2000, in each case until the earliest of the date
upon which (i) the Exchange Offer is consummated, (ii) a Shelf Registration
Statement with respect to all Registrable Securities is declared effective or
(iii) solely with respect to Registrable Securities held by Holders other than
the Initial Purchasers, the expiration of the holding period applicable to Notes
held by non-affiliates of Nextel under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act; at
which time, in any such case, upon the request of any Holder of such Securities,
the Company will deliver to such Holder certificates evidencing such Holder's
Securities without the legends restricting the transfer thereof.

      (e)   Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers
and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to
comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders
for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 2(a)
and Section 2(b) hereof; provided, that no monetary damages shall be assessed
against the Company by reason of any failure by the Company to comply with its
obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, it being understood that
the penalty interest rates applicable to the Securities as provided in Section
2(a) hereof are intended to serve as full and complete monetary compensation to
the Holders in such circumstances.

      3.    Registration Procedures.

      In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the
Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the
Company shall as expeditiously as possible:

      (a)   prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the
   appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the
   Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for
   the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z)
   shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
   applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to
   be filed therewith, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration
   Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section
   2 hereof;

      (b)   prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
   amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
   Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause each
   Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as
   so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep
   each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3) and
   Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to


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   transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities
   or Exchange Securities;

      (c)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
   Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for
   the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of
   Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
   Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
   supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may
   reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other
   disposition of the Registrable Securities; and the Company consents to the
   use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance
   with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities
   and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the
   Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such
   Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with
   applicable law;

      (d)   use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
   Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such
   jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a
   Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the
   applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to
   cooperate with such Holder in connection with any filings required to be made
   with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all
   other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to
   enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of
   such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the
   Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a
   dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
   required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent
   to service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such
   jurisdiction if it is not so subject;

      (e)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of
   Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the Initial
   Purchasers promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm
   such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective
   and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes
   effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority
   for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or
   for additional information after the Registration Statement has become
   effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority
   of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or
   the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the
   effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of
   Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of
   the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales
   agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease
   to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives
   any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
   Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any
   proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the
   period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement
   made in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue


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   in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such
   Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements
   therein not misleading in any material respect and (vi) of any determination
   by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement
   would be appropriate;

      (f)   make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
   suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
   possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal
   of any such order;

      (g)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon request, furnish to each
   Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy
   of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto
   (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto,
   unless requested);

      (h)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
   Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
   delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and
   not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to
   be in such denominations and registered in such names as the selling Holders
   may reasonably request at least two business days prior to the closing of any
   sale of Registrable Securities;

      (i)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any
   event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its best efforts to prepare
   and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a
   Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated
   therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as
   thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such
   Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
   to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light
   of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company
   agrees to notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as
   practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby
   agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or
   supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;

      (j)   a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement,
   any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or
   supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by
   reference into a Registration Statement (other than filings pursuant to the
   1934 Act) or a Prospectus after the initial filing of a Registration
   Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and
   their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
   Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the
   Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their
   counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or
   their counsel) available for discussion of such document, and shall not at
   any time file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any
   Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a
   Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
   Registration Statement (other than filings pursuant to the 1934 Act) or a
   Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the
   case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall
   not have previously been advised and


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   furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or its counsel (and, in
   the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel)
   shall object;

      (k)   obtain a CUSIP number, and, if applicable, a CINS number, for all
   Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later
   than the effective date of a Registration Statement;

      (l)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection
   by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any
   Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf
   Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the
   Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial and
   other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company, and cause
   the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all
   information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter,
   attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;

      (m)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to cause
   all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any
   automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company
   are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such
   Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;

      (n)   use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities or Registrable
   Securities, as the case may be, to be rated by two nationally recognized
   statistical rating organizations (as such term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2)
   under the 1933 Act);

      (o)   if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities
   covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus
   supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such
   Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and (ii)
   make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such
   post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of
   the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and

      (p)   in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary
   agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including
   those requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
   being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
   Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten
   Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such
   representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such
   Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its
   subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents
   incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in
   each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
   underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when
   requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and
   opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to
   the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to
   each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the
   matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings,
   (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters


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   from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
   necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the
   Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial
   statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the
   Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of
   Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering
   matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
   connection with underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and
   certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of
   the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are
   customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued
   validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant
   to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions
   contained in an underwriting agreement.

      In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require
each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request
in writing.

      In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the
kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until
such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in its
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession,
of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
receipt of such notice. The Company shall not suspend the disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement for more than
an aggregate of 120 days during any 365 day period. If the Company shall suspend
the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement for more than an aggregate of 60 days during any 365 day period, then
the Company shall pay each Holder of Registrable Securities that are registered
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and have not been sold pursuant
thereto an illiquidity fee in an amount equal to 0.5% per annum of the principal
amounts of such Registrable Securities held by such Holder for the period in
excess of 60 days in such 365 day period when dispositions pursuant to such
Shelf Registration Statement are suspended (or until such date, if sooner, on
which such securities cease to qualify as Registrable Securities).

      The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an
Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering and shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company.

      4.    Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.

      (a)   The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer
that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in
exchange for


                                       10

<PAGE>   12



Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
or other trading activities (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to
be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Securities.

      The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that if the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a
plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by
which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without
naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange
Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating
Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the 1933
Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so
long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.

      (b)   In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this Agreement as they
relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer
Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto as
may be, reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker- Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; provided that:

      (i)   the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement the
   Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as would
   otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i) of this Agreement, for a period
   exceeding 90 days after the last Exchange Date and Participating
   Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to deliver and shall
   not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the resales
   contemplated by this Section 4;

      (ii)  the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in
   Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the extent
   not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the
   rules and regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable
   request to the Company by the Initial Purchasers or with the reasonable
   request in writing to the Company by one or more broker-dealers who certify
   to the Initial Purchasers and the Company in writing that they anticipate
   that they will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in
   connection with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set
   forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, the
   Company shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing the
   Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be Goldman, Sachs & Co. unless it
   elects not to act as such representative and (y) to cause to be delivered
   only one, if any, "cold comfort" letter with respect to the Prospectus in the
   form existing on the last Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent
   amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in
   clause (i) above; and

      (iii) on a weekly basis, the representative of the Participating
   Broker-Dealers will confirm with the Company that the Shelf Registration
   Statement is available.



                                       11

<PAGE>   13



      (c)   The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company or any
Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b)
above.

      5.    Indemnification and Contribution.

      (a)   The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial
Purchaser, each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial
Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act
or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled
by, any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, from and against all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by any Initial Purchaser, any Holder or any such
controlling or affiliated Person in connection with defending or investigating
any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents
incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement
or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information
relating to any Initial Purchaser or any Holder furnished to the Company in
writing by any Initial Purchaser or any selling Holder expressly for use
therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3 of
this Agreement, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any,
selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals
participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person
who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act)
to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the
Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement.

      (b)   Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, and
each of their respective directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement
and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser and any
other selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from
the Company to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, but only with reference
to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

      (c)   In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others


                                       12

<PAGE>   14



the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees
and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Initial Purchasers and all
Persons, if any, who control the Initial Purchasers within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, (b) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and
each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such
Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who
control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case
involving the Initial Purchasers and Persons who control the Initial Purchasers,
such firm shall be designated in writing by Goldman, Sachs & Co. In such case
involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm
shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but,
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request (ii) such indemnifying party shall
have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to
such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not
have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of counsel in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding; provided
that such unconditional release may be subject to a parallel release of a
claimant or plaintiff by such indemnified party from all liability in respect of
claims or counterclaims asserted by such indemnified party and (ii) does not
include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

      (d)   If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph
(b) of this Section 4 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying
party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable


                                       13

<PAGE>   15



by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified
party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
Company and the Holders shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of
Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered pursuant to a
Registration Statement.

      (e)   The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages
and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities
were sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to
any indemnified party at law or in equity.

      The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Initial Purchaser, any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial
Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or
directors or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the
Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Shelf Registration Statement.

      6.    Miscellaneous.

      (a)   No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into, and on
or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement which is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in
this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights
granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not
inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's other
issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.

      (b)   Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or


                                       14

<PAGE>   16



consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the
Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by
such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided, however,
that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents to any departure
from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder
of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder.

      (c)   Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial
Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the
Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement
and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6(c).

      All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two business days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered
back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next
business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery.

      Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.

      (d)   Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities
in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement. If any transferee of any
Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation
of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of
the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable
Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound
by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such
person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers
(in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation
to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any
breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this
Agreement.

      (e)   Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company shall not, and shall
use its best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the
1933 Act) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Securities.

      (f)   Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and each Holder shall have
the right to enforce such agreements


                                       15

<PAGE>   17



directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to
protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

      (g)   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

      (h)   Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

      (i)   Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
principles of conflicts or choices of law thereof.

      (j)   Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.



                                       16

<PAGE>   18



      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

                                        NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Thomas J. Sidman
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Name: Thomas J. Sidman
                                            Title: Senior Vice President

Confirmed and accepted as of
 the date first above written:

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.,
as representative of the several purchasers
named in the Purchase Agreement referred
to herein



By:/s/ Authorized Signatory
   ---------------------------------

   Name:
        ----------------------------

   Title:
         ---------------------------



                                       17