EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into on May 8, 2009 as of May 20, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Sprint Nextel Corporation, a Kansas corporation (the “Company”) on behalf of itself and any of its subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities, and Robert H. Johnson (the “Executive”) (the Company and the Executive, collectively, the “Parties,” and each, a “Party”). Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 29.

WITNESSETH :

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive the Company as President—CDMA and the Executive desires to accept such employment; and

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1. Employment .

(a) The Company will employ the Executive and the Executive will be employed by the Company upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

(b) The employment relationship between the Company and the Executive shall be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including without limitation, those relating to the Company’s Code of Conduct, confidential information and avoidance of conflicts, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

2. Term . Subject to termination under Section 9, the Executive’s employment shall be for an initial term of 24 months commencing on the Effective Date and shall continue through the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Employment Term”). At the end of the Initial Employment Term and on each succeeding anniversary of the Effective Date, the Employment Term will be automatically extended by an additional 12 months (each, a “Renewal Term”), unless, not less than 12 months prior to the end of the Initial Employment Term or any Renewal Term, either the Executive or the Company has given the other written notice (in accordance with Section 20) of nonrenewal. The Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of his intent to terminate employment with the Company at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such termination.

3. Position and Duties of the Executive .

(a) The Executive shall serve as President—CDMA, and agrees to serve as an officer of any enterprise and/or agrees to be an employee of any Subsidiary as may be requested from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), any committee or person delegated by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “Chief Executive Officer”). In such capacity, the Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or such other officer of the Company as may be designated by the Chief Executive Officer. The Executive shall have such duties, responsibility and authority as may be assigned to the Executive from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer, the Board or such other officer of the Company as may be designated by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.

(b) During the Employment Term, the Executive shall, except as may from time to time be otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company, during reasonable vacations (as set forth in Section 7 hereof) and authorized leave and except as may from time to time otherwise be permitted pursuant to Section 3(c), devote his best efforts, full attention and energies during his normal working time to the business of the Company, to any duties as may be delineated in the Company’s Bylaws for the Executive’s position and title and such other related duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be reasonably prescribed by the Board, any committee or person designated by the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer, in each case, within the framework of the Company’s policies and objectives.

(c) During the Employment Term, and provided that such activities do not contravene the provisions of Section 3(a) or (b) or Sections 10, 11, 12 or 13 hereof and, provided further , the Executive does not engage in any other substantial business activity for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage which materially interferes with the performance of his duties hereunder, the Executive may participate in any governmental, educational, charitable or other community affairs and, subject to the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer serve as a member of the governing board of any such organization or any private or public for-profit company. The Executive may retain all fees and other compensation from any such service, and the Company shall not reduce his compensation by the amount of such fees.

4. Compensation .

(a) Base Salary . During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $475,000 (the “Base Salary”), which Base Salary shall be payable at the times and in the manner consistent with the Company’s general policies regarding compensation of the Company’s senior executives. The Base Salary will be reviewed periodically by the Compensation Committee and may be increased (but not decreased, except for across-the-board reductions generally applicable to the Company’s senior executives) from time to time in the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion.

(b) Incentive Compensation . The Executive will be eligible to participate in any short-term and long-term incentive compensation plans, annual bonus plans and such other management incentive programs or arrangements of the Company approved by the Board that are generally available to the Company’s senior executives, including, but not limited to, the STIP and the LTSIP. Incentive compensation shall be paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans, programs and arrangements.

(i) Annual Performance Bonus . During the Employment Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the STIP, with such opportunities as may be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (“Target Bonuses”), and as may be increased (but not decreased, except for across-the-board reductions generally applicable to the Company’s senior executives) from time to time, and the Executive shall be entitled to receive full payment of any award under the STIP, determined pursuant to the STIP (a “Bonus Award”).

(ii) Long-Term Performance Bonus . During the Employment Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the LTSIP with such opportunities, if any, as may be determined by the Compensation Committee (“LTSIP Target Award Opportunities”).

(iii) Incentive bonuses, if earned, shall be paid when incentive compensation is customarily paid to the Company’s senior executives in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans, programs or arrangements.

(iv) Pursuant to the Company’s applicable incentive or bonus plans as in effect from time to time, the Executive’s incentive compensation during the term of this Agreement may be determined according to criteria intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(c) Equity Compensation . The Executive shall be eligible to participate in such equity incentive compensation plans and programs as the Company generally provides to its senior executives, including, but not limited to, the LTSIP. During the Employment Term, the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant equity awards to the Executive, which would be subject to the terms of the respective award agreements evidencing such grants and the applicable plan or program.

(i) Sign-On Cash Bonus Award. The Company will pay the Executive as cash sign-on bonus in the amount of $75,000 not later than 30 days after the Effective Date, provided, however, that if the Executive does not remain employed by the Company through the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the Executive will repay the Company this amount upon his termination of employment unless the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause.

(ii) Special Stock Option and Performance Unit Award . The Compensation Committee hereby grants to the Executive as of the Effective Date a special award of 154,333 stock options and 167,708 performance units, which shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A, and, except as otherwise provided in such agreement, shall be governed by the provisions of the LTSIP.

5. Benefits .

(a) During the Employment Term, the Company shall make available to the Executive, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans, participation for the Executive and his eligible dependents in: (i) Company-sponsored group health, major medical, dental, vision, pension and profit sharing, 401(k) and employee welfare benefit plans, programs and arrangements (the “Employee Plans”) and such other usual and customary benefits in which senior executives of the Company participate from time to time, and (ii) such fringe benefits and perquisites as may be made available to senior executives of the Company as a group.

(b) The Executive acknowledges that the Company may change its benefit programs from time to time, which may result in certain benefit programs being amended or terminated for its senior executives generally.

6. Expenses . The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with his duties on behalf of the Company in accordance with the Company’s Enterprise Financial Services—Employee Travel and Expense Policy, as may be amended from time to time, or any successor policy, plan, program or arrangement thereto and any other of its expense policies applicable to senior executives of the Company, following submission by the Executive of reimbursement expense forms in a form consistent with such expense policies.

7. Vacation . In addition to such holidays, sick leave, personal leave and other paid leave as is allowed under the Company’s policies applicable to senior executives generally, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s vacation policy in accordance with the Company’s policy generally applicable to senior executives. The duration of such vacations and the time or times when they shall be taken will be determined by the Executive in consultation with the Company.

8. Place of Performance . In connection with his employment by the Company, the Executive shall be based at the principal executive offices of the Company in the vicinity of Overland Park, Kansas (the “Place of Performance”), except for travel reasonably required for Company business. The Executive will relocate the Executive’s residence to the area surrounding the Executive’s Place of Performance within three months of the Effective Date, and to the extent so relocated, the Company will pay or reimburse the Executive’s relocation expenses in accordance with the Company’s relocation policy applicable to senior executives. If the Company relocates the Executive’s Place of Performance more than 50 miles from his Place of Performance prior to such relocation, the Executive shall relocate to a residence within the greater of (a) 50 miles of such relocated Place of Performance or (b) such total miles that does

not exceed the total number of miles the Executive commuted to his Place of Performance prior to relocation of the Executive’s Place of Performance. To the extent the Executive relocates his residence as provided in this Section 8, the Company will pay or reimburse the Executive’s relocation expenses in accordance with the Company’s relocation policy applicable to senior executives. Exceptions to the policy will be limited to home selling benefits and shall be administered in a manner consistent with the Company’s normal exception process subject in each case to approval by the Chief Executive Officer.

9. Termination .

(a) Termination by the Company for Cause or Resignation by the Executive Without Good Reason . If, during the Employment Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or if the Executive resigns without Good Reason, the Executive shall not be eligible to receive Base Salary or to participate in any Employee Plans with respect to future periods after the date of such termination or resignation except for the right to receive accrued but unpaid cash compensation and vested benefits under any Employee Plan in accordance with the terms of such Employee Plan and applicable law.

(b) Termination by the Company Without Cause or Resignation by the Executive for Good Reason outside of the CIC Severance Protection Period . If, during the Employment Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or the Executive terminates for Good Reason prior to, or following expiration of, the CIC Severance Protection Period and such termination constitutes a Separation from Service or the Executive is entitled to severance compensation and benefits under this Section 9(b) pursuant to the provisions of Section 9(c), the Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company: (1) the Executive’s accrued, but unpaid, Base Salary through the date of termination of employment, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and any vested benefits under any Employee Plan in accordance with the terms of such Employee Plan and applicable law, and (2) conditioned upon the Executive executing a Release within the Release Consideration Period and delivering it to the Company with the Release Revocation Period expired without revocation, and in full satisfaction of the Executive’s rights and any benefits the Executive might be entitled to under the Separation Plan and this Agreement and any requirements of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or similar law, unless otherwise specified herein:

(i) periodic payments equal to his Base Salary in effect prior to the termination of his employment, which payments shall be paid to the Executive in equal installments on the regular payroll dates under the Company’s payroll practices applicable to the Executive on the date of this Agreement for the Payment Period, except that if the Executive is a Specified Employee, with respect to any amount payable by reason of the Separation from Service that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A, such installments shall not commence until after the end of the six continuous month period following the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service, in which case, the Executive shall be paid a lump-sum cash payment equal to the

aggregate amount of missed installments during such period on the first day of the seventh month following the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service;

(ii) (A) receive a pro rata payment of the Bonus Award for the portion of the Company’s current fiscal year prior to the date of termination of his employment; (B) receive a pro rata payment of the Capped Bonus Award for the portion of the Company’s current fiscal year following the date of termination of his employment; (C) receive for the next fiscal year following the fiscal year during which his termination of employment occurs, the Capped Bonus Award, or if his Payment Period ends during such fiscal year, a pro rata portion of the Capped Bonus Award; and (D) if his Payment Period ends in the second year following the fiscal year during which the Executive’s termination of employment occurs, receive payment of a pro rata portion of the Capped Bonus Award for such fiscal year; provided , however , that to the extent the Executive’s employment is terminated for Good Reason due to a reduction of the Executive’s Target Bonus, in accordance with Section 29(x)(ii), the Executive’s Target Bonus for the purposes of this Section 9(b)(ii) shall be the Executive’s Target Bonus immediately prior to such reduction; and provided, further , that any pro rata payment shall be determined based on the methodology for determining pro rated awards under the STIP and each such payment shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of the STIP in the calendar year in which the Bonus Award or each Capped Bonus Award, as applicable, is determined, and in all events, not later than December 31 ^st of the year in which each such award is determined;

(iii) continue from the date of Separation from Service for the number of months equal to the period of continuation coverage the Executive would be entitled to pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code participation in the Company’s group health plans at then-existing participation and coverage levels comparable to the terms in effect from time to time for the Company’s senior executives, including any co-payment and premium payment requirements, for which the Company shall deduct from each payment payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 9(b)(i) the amount of any employee contributions necessary to maintain such coverage for such period, except that (A) following such period, the Executive shall retain any rights to continue coverage under the Company’s group health plans under the benefits continuation provisions pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code by paying the applicable premiums of such plans; and (B) the Executive shall no longer be eligible to receive the benefits otherwise receivable pursuant to this Section 9(b)(iii) as of the date that the Executive becomes eligible to receive comparable benefits from a new employer;

(iv) continue for the Payment Period participation in the Company’s employee life insurance plans at then-existing participation and coverage levels, comparable to the terms in effect from time to time for the Company’s senior executives, including any premium payment requirements, for which the Company shall deduct from each payment payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 9(b)(i) the amount of any employee contributions necessary to maintain such coverage for such period, except that the Executive shall no longer be

eligible to receive the benefits otherwise receivable pursuant to this Section 9(b)(iv) as of the date that the Executive becomes eligible to receive comparable benefits from a new employer; and

(v) receive outplacement services by a firm selected by the Company at its expense in an amount not to exceed $35,000; provided , however , that all such outplacement services must be completed, and all payments by the Company must be made, by December 31 ^st of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9(b) to the contrary, to the extent the Executive has not executed the Release within the Release Consideration Period and delivered it to the Company, or has revoked the executed Release within the Release Revocation Period, as determined at the end of such Release Revocation Period, the Executive will forfeit any right to receive the payments and benefits specified in this Section 9(b) (other than any accrued but unpaid payments and benefits through the date of termination of employment).

(c) Termination by the Company Without Cause or Resignation by the Executive for Good Reason During the CIC Severance Protection Period . Subject to (i)-(iv) below, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, before the Employment Term expires and during the CIC Severance Protection Period, and the termination constitutes a Separation from Service, subject to the terms of the CIC Severance Plan, the Executive will become entitled to severance compensation and benefits under the CIC Severance Plan as of (x) the date the Separation from Service occurs, or (y) in the event of a Pre-CIC Termination, the date the Change in Control occurs, as of which date all rights to severance benefits under this Agreement will cease.

(i) The CIC Severance Plan will not apply and the Executive will be entitled to severance compensation and benefits under Section 9(b) of this Agreement if the Executive (x) as of his Separation from Service is not a Participant in, or (y) is otherwise not entitled to severance compensation and benefits under, the CIC Severance Plan.

(ii) If the Executive is entitled to severance benefits under the CIC Severance Plan as a result of a Pre-CIC Termination, any benefits payable before the Change in Control will be paid under this Agreement and any additional benefits payable after the Change in Control will be paid under the CIC Severance Plan.

(iii) In no event may there be duplication of benefits under this Agreement and the CIC Severance Plan.

(iv) The terms “Change in Control” and “Pre-CIC Termination” are defined in the CIC Severance Plan.

(d) Termination by Death . If the Executive dies during the Employment Term, the Executive’s employment will terminate and the Executive’s

beneficiary or if none, the Executive’s estate, shall be entitled to receive from the Company, the Executive’s accrued, but unpaid, Base Salary through the date of termination of employment and any vested benefits under any Employee Plan in accordance with the terms of such Employee Plan and applicable law.

(e) Termination by Disability . If the Executive becomes Disabled prior to the expiration of the Employment Term, the Executive’s employment will terminate, and provided that such termination constitutes a Separation from Service, the Executive shall be entitled to:

(i) receive from the Company periodic payments equal to his Base Salary in effect prior to the termination of his employment (reduced by any amounts paid on a monthly basis under any long-term disability plan (the “LTD Plan”) now or hereafter sponsored by the Company), which payments shall be paid to the Executive commencing on the Separation from Service date for 12 months in equal installments on the regular payroll dates under the Company’s payroll practices applicable to the Executive on the date of this Agreement; provided , however , that in the event that the Executive is a Specified Employee, with respect to any amount payable by reason of the Executive’s Separation from Service that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A, such installments shall not commence until the earlier to occur of (A) the first business day of the seventh month following the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service and (B) death, in which case the Executive (or the Executive’s estate in the event of Executive’s death) shall be paid on the earlier of (1) the first day of the seventh month following the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service and (2) the Executive’s death a lump-sum cash payment equal to the aggregate amount of any such payments that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A that the Executive would have been entitled to receive during such period following the Executive’s Separation from Service; and

(ii) continue participation in the Company’s group health plans at then-existing participation and coverage levels for 12 months (measured from the Executive’s Separation from Service), comparable to the terms in effect from time to time for the Company’s senior executives, including any co-payment and premium payment requirements, and the Company shall deduct from each payment payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 9(e)(i), the amount of any employee contributions necessary to maintain such coverage for such period; except that following such period, the Executive shall retain any rights to continue coverage under the Company’s group health plans under the benefits continuation provisions pursuant to Code Section 4980B by paying the applicable premiums of such plans.

(f) No Mitigation Obligation . No amounts paid under Section 9 will be reduced by any earnings that the Executive may receive from any other source. The Executive’s coverage under the Company’s medical, dental, vision and employee life insurance plans will terminate as of the date that the Executive is eligible for comparable

benefits from a new employer. The Executive shall notify the Company within 30 days after becoming eligible for coverage of any such benefits.

(g) Forfeiture . Notwithstanding the foregoing, any right of the Executive to receive termination payments and benefits hereunder shall be forfeited to the extent of any amounts payable after any breach of Section 10, 11, 12, 13 or 15 by the Executive.

10. Confidential Information; Statements to Third Parties .

(a) During the Employment Term and on a permanent basis upon and following termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive acknowledges that:

(i) all information, whether or not reduced to writing (or in a form from which information can be obtained, translated, or derived into reasonably usable form) or maintained in the mind or memory of the Executive and whether compiled or created by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any affiliates of the Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Group”), which derives independent economic value from not being readily known to or ascertainable by proper means by others who can obtain economic value from the disclosure or use of such information, of a proprietary, private, secret or confidential (including, without exception, inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas, compositions, compounds, projects, developments, sales strategies, plans, research data, clinical data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs, customer and supplier lists, trademarks, service marks, copyrights (whether registered or unregistered), artwork, and contacts at or knowledge of customers or prospective customers) nature concerning the Company Group’s business, business relationships or financial affairs (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) shall be the exclusive property of the Company Group;

(ii) the Proprietary Information of the Company Group gained by the Executive during the Executive’s association with the Company Group was or will be developed by and/or for the Company Group through substantial expenditure of time, effort and money and constitutes valuable and unique property of the Company Group;

(iii) reasonable efforts have been put forth by the Company Group to maintain the secrecy of its Proprietary Information;

(iv) such Proprietary Information is and will remain the sole property of the Company Group; and

(v) any retention or use by the Executive of Proprietary Information after the termination of the Executive’s services for the Company Group will constitute a misappropriation of the Company Group’s Proprietary Information.

(b) The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that he will take all affirmative steps reasonably necessary or required by the Company to protect the Proprietary Information from inappropriate disclosure during and after his employment with the Company.

(c) The Executive further agrees that all files, letters, memoranda, reports, records, data, sketches, drawings, laboratory notebooks, program listings, or other written, photographic, electronic, or other tangible material containing or constituting Proprietary Information, whether created by the Executive or others, which shall come into his custody or possession, regardless of medium, shall be and are the exclusive property of the Company to be used by him only in the performance of his duties for the Company. All such materials or copies thereof and all tangible things and other property of the Company Group in the Executive’s custody or possession shall be delivered to the Company (to the extent the Executive has not already returned) in good condition, on or before five business days subsequent to the earlier of: (i) a request by the Company or (ii) the Executive’s termination of employment for any reason or Cause, including for nonrenewal of this Agreement, Disability, termination by the Company or termination by the Executive. After such delivery, the Executive shall not retain any such materials or portions or copies thereof or any such tangible things and other property and shall execute any statements or affirmations of compliance under oath that the Company may require.

(d) The Executive further agrees that his obligation not to disclose or to use information and materials of the types set forth in Sections 10(a), 10(b) and 10(c) above, and his obligation to return materials and tangible property, set forth in Section 10(c) above, also extends to such types of information, materials and tangible property of customers of the Company Group, consultants for the Company Group, suppliers to the Company Group, or other third parties who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company Group or to the Executive.

(e) The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that he will continue to keep in strict confidence, and will not, directly or indirectly, at any time, disclose, furnish, disseminat